FIGHT CLUB!
THE HIT: An alliance of Muslim and Christian parents in the English city of Birmingham stage protests at primary schools running an LGBT+ inclusive program called No Outsiders.
THE SLAY: Hundreds of LGBT+ people and allies attend an open meeting in Birmingham’s Gay Village to discuss a positive way forward. The UK’s Education Minister expresses support for the No Outsiders lessons, and the British education authority, Ofsted, praises the program. The teacher who designed the inclusive education initiative, Andrew Moffat (left), is shortlisted for the Global Teacher Prize, which recognises exceptional work in schools.
THE HIT: US political commentator Denise McAllister takes aim at gay journalist Yashar Ali on Twitter, writing: “He doesn’t know his purpose as a man… he wallows and tries to find himself in another man’s asshole. Sad.”
THE SLAY: McAllister’s employer, news site The Federalist, responds on Twitter by confirming it had fired her due to her anti-gay comments.
THE HIT: The US fast food chain Chick-fil-A continues to donate money to anti-LGBT+ groups, saying it is against same-sex marriage and operates on “Biblical principles”.
THE SLAY: Democrats fight back by blocking Chick-fil-A opening new outlets in two US airports, saying that state-run organisations have a responsibility “to avoid doing business with corporations who fund hateful and divisive groups”. The two airports that have so far banned Chickfil-A are Buffalo Niagara International Airport in New York and San Antonio International.
THE HIT: The Sultan Of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah (above), brings in laws that will punish consenting gay sex with death by stoning.
THE SLAY: George Clooney leads the fight back, urging a boycott of luxury hotels around the world that are owned by the Sultan. Protests are staged at many, including London’s Dorchester Hotel and The Hotel Bel-Air in LA, leading them to delete social media accounts due to a global backlash. Elton John and Ellen Degeneres are among those to support Clooney’s calls. Political leaders around the world condemn the anti-gay laws and call for international action. Online petitions are launched to boycott Royal Brunei Airlines, with many travel companies halting all ticket sales on the carrier. Virgin Australia axes its deal with the airline.