Working for Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual and Transgender Equal Rights
Words have consequences. Whether it's a local school board member, a religious organization, national 'advocacy groups' or elected officials, anti-gay vitriol creates a toxic environment that can make LGBT people – particularly youth – think they aren't worthy of the same dignity that all Americans deserve. Check out where HRC is calling out homophobia and how you can get involved.
Date: April 25, 2011 Source: MSNBC
The law firm hired by the House of Representatives to defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court has decided it will drop its defense of the federal statute, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman.
Date: April 13, 2011 Source: New York Times
Hours after the Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant directed an obscene antigay slur at a referee who had just whistled him for a technical foul, N.B.A. Commissioner David Stern fined him $100,000 on Wednesday and, in a statement, described Bryant’s remarks as “offensive and inexcusable.”
Date: April 14, 2011 Source: USA Today
John Amaechi, who played professional basketball from 1995 to 2003, including five seasons with three NBA teams, came out as gay to the mainstream after his playing career ended. The 6-10 center-forward wrote a book, Man in the Middle, about being a gay professional athlete. Close friends and some teammates knew of Amaechi's sexuality during his basketball career. He is now a psychologist working in the USA and Britain.
Date: October 29, 2010 Source: The Atlantic
Clint McCance is stepping down. This Tuesday, The Advocate reported that McCance, a member of the Midland School Board in Pleasant Plains, Arkansas, made a series of homophobic posts on his Facebook wall [PDF], expressing disgust for "queers" and noting, "I like that fags can't procreate. I also enjoy the fact that they often give each other aids and die." McCance's words quickly spread through the blogosphere, and a Facebook petition calling for his dismissal gained over 64,000 fans. On Thursday, McCance appeared on Anderson Cooper 360°, apologized for his comments, and announced that he'd be resigning his position with the school board.
Date: October 29, 2010 Source: Huffington Post
The Arkansas school board member whose homophobic rants on Facebook drew widespread condemnation announced he was resigning on Thursday's "AC360."
Date: October 28, 2010 Source: CNN
A school board district member in Arkansas who came under fire for an anti-gay post on a social networking site regrets the comments and will resign his seat, he told CNN's Anderson Cooper on Thursday.
Date: November 01, 2011 Source: Washington Post
To better ensure its staff follows the school’s biblical mandate, Georgia's Shorter University told its 200 employees late last month to sign a “Personal Lifestyle Statement” rejecting homosexuality, adultery and premarital sex.
Date: October 31, 2011 Source: FOX News
A private Georgia university is reportedly requiring its employees to sign a statement indicating they are not gay or face termination.
