FIGHT CLUB.
(SOME) FAITH LEADERS SAY GAY’S OKAY
With centuries of oppression under their belts, the world’s major religions continue, for the most part, to persecute and discriminate against LGBTQIA+ people.
The Pope and other faith leaders occasionally issue vague statements about not hating any human beings, even if they are gay. But it’s never the sweeping declaration of acceptance that’s needed to change the minds of anti-gay people of faith around the world.
But now, gay British Anglican, Jayne Ozanne has secured the support of hundreds of prominent religious leaders from major faiths who have signed a declaration that LGBTQIA+ people “are a precious part of creation and are part of the natural order”. It also affirms that “all are equal under God” and should be “treated equally under the law”.
The declaration has sent shockwaves through the global Muslim, Christian, Jewish and other faith communities. It is particularly powerful as it demands an end to any form of anti-gay religious discrimination, condemns conversion therapy and asks for forgiveness for historical wrongdoings. The declaration culminated in a UK government-funded Global Interfaith Commission on LGBTQIA+ Lives virtual conference in December.
DON’T MESS WITH ANTI-GAY VIOLENCE When LA County’s district attorney, George Gascón (pictured) said he was planning to stop criminals getting harsher sentences for anti-gay hate crimes, California’s LGBTQIA+ activists saw a call-to-arms.
Gascón didn’t realise what he’d be up against when he suggested the move, insisting that attacks on people due to being LGBTQIA+ didn’t demand a heftier penalty. The Anti-Defamation League was one of the campaign groups leading the fight back, demanding that Gascón rethink his plans. They highlighted the rise in anti-gay violence in LA and how our community needs protection by law. As the campaign gained traction, Gascón issued a statement saying his office will amend their plans, effectively backtracking in a win for the LGBTQIA+ community.
DADDY DONE A BAD, BAD THING
We’ve all heard of dads finding it hard to come to terms with their sons being gay but one Italian dad took it to a whole new level last year, hiring a hitman to stalk his son and break his fingers. But all did not go as planned.
The hitman followed the son around, trying to find the best time to strike. But, after seeing the son with his loving boyfriend, he decided that violence wouldn’t gain anything and warned him about this dad’s dire plans.
When the police found out, well, it didn’t take long before bad daddy was sentenced to two years in jail.
But, perhaps more interestingly, the case attracted attention at a time when Italy is debating whether to introduce laws to make anti-gay hate crimes illegal, meaning the dad might have inadvertently helped protect gay men in the future.
THIS TEEN NAILED IT
When American gay high schooler Trevor Wilkinson (pictured) was getting ready to return to class after Thanksgiving, he thought he’d brighten up his day by painting his fingernails. Little did he know that he’d be suspended for breaking the student dress code, which explicitly prohibits boys from colouring their nails.
But Wilkinson was up for a fight, and how could he lose with those nails? The 17-year-old launched an online petition against not only his suspension but the homophobic dress code, gaining more than 380,000 signatures (and still rising). His campaign attracted national attention, with an appearance on Good Morning America in the pipeline. The school now says it will reassess its policy.
Find Trevor on Instagram @trevv_wilkinson or @trevormichae1. Find his petition at Change.org. Follow him on Twitter @trevvowilkinson