Month: September 2017

5 THINGS TO KNOW

Trump to nominate out gay man as German ambassador.

September 2, 2017 compassq Comments Off on Trump to nominate out gay man as German ambassador.

President Trump announced on Friday that he intends to nominate Richard Grenell, the longest-serving United States spokesman at the United Nations, to be the ambassador to Germany. If Grenell is confirmed, he would be the first openly LGBT ambassador for Trump, according to The Associated Press. Grenell held his U.N. spokesman position from 2001 to 2008, serving under four U.S. ambassadors during former President George W. Bush’s administration.

HEALTH

It’s a bisexual world at Harvard.

September 2, 2017 compassq Comments Off on It’s a bisexual world at Harvard.

Bisexuals are at least 400 percent more prevalent in Harvard University’s incoming class of freshmen than they are in the general population. While approximately 1.8 percent of the general United States population identifies as bisexual, 7.9 percent of Harvard’s Class of 2021 says they are bisexual.

5 THINGS TO KNOW

Will the transgender troop ban be the end of ROTC?

September 2, 2017 compassq Comments Off on Will the transgender troop ban be the end of ROTC?

A ban on transgender troops in the military could take effect next year if President Donald Trump has his way. This presents a problem for institutions like Roger Williams University (RWU), who said it doesn’t accept discrimination based on race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. According to RWU President Donald Farish, Trump’s ban could eventually lead to a “termination” of the school’s Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program.

5 THINGS TO KNOW

The Canadian Rainbow Railroad steps in to help Chechen aslyum seekers.

September 2, 2017 compassq Comments Off on The Canadian Rainbow Railroad steps in to help Chechen aslyum seekers.

A charity has partnered with the Canadian government to help dozens of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender refugees escape persecution in Russia’s Chechnya republic. Kimalhi Powell, executive director of Rainbow Railroad, says the non-profit group heard in April that Chechen forces were abducting, torturing and murdering gay men. Powell says the charity worked with the Russian LGBT Network to establish safe houses for 37 people looking to escape the country, and partnered with the Canadian government on emergency visas.

5 THINGS TO KNOW

Danish soccer players fight homophobia.

September 2, 2017 compassq Comments Off on Danish soccer players fight homophobia.

Some pretty powerful people in Denmark have united to form a campaign to fight homophobia in soccer. The campaign, with the hashtag #fodboldforalle, features soccer players, including national-team players, with a rainbow flag painted on their faces, according to TV2. Some of the athletes are speaking out as well.

POLICIES

The “no gay wedding cake” case heading to the Supreme Court.

September 2, 2017 compassq Comments Off on The “no gay wedding cake” case heading to the Supreme Court.

This coming year, the Supreme Court will determine whether a religious baker has the right to refuse a same-sex couple a wedding cake. On Thursday, the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), an anti-LGBTQ hate group, submitted its first brief defending the discriminatory actions of its client, Jack Phillips of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Denver.

POLICIES

Transgender Chechen can now call Chicago home.

September 2, 2017 compassq Comments Off on Transgender Chechen can now call Chicago home.

When Leyla arrived in the United States after being smuggled over the Mexican border, she showed her passport to the Border Patrol officers who found her. Then she said one of the few words she knew in English: “Asylum.” The border guards may not have known it at the time, but the passport wasn’t just a travel document; it was stark evidence that Leyla needed refuge.