Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll speaks in her office at City Hall in Salem, Mass. Friday, Dec. 16, 2011. Driscoll is donating $5 to a local LGBT nonprofit for each anti-gay phone call her office receives. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
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Nicky Morgan said the constituent was a ‘typical man’ Get the latest LGBT headlines in your inbox with our free daily newsletter! Join Share on WhatsApp 0 reader comments
The new Education Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities Nicky Morgan, earlier this year told a constituent that he was a “typical man”, when he asked about her stance opposing same-sex marriage.
Mrs Morgan was in April promoted to Minister for Women, but the Equalities remit was at the time given to Culture Secretary Sajid Javid.
On Tuesday, David Cameron appointed Nicky Morgan as the new Education Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities. The MP voted against same-sex marriage last year.
Sky News reports that Mrs Morgan sent the email to constituent Gary Chadwick back in April, who is in a civil partnership, and who questioned how she could work as Minister for Women whilst opposing same-sex marriage.
Mr Chadwick, a solicitor, wrote: “As Minister for Women, charged with promoting equality for all women regardless of their sexuality, can you please explain to me how your new job is compatible with your strident opposition to gay marriage, which as you have said many times before ‘can only be between a man and a woman’”.
To which Mrs Morgan responded: “Your e-mail is typical from a man so I suggest you watch what I do in the role and you will see for yourself.”
Downing Street this week defended the appointment of Mrs Morgan as Minister for Women and Equalities, saying as she is also the Education Secretary, she will be responsible for tackling issues such as homophobic bullying in schools.
Many have questioned her appointment as Mrs Morgan, elected to Parliament in 2010, voted against the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act at second and third reading last year, stating that
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“New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has released a statement calling the release of a noted LGBT rights activist and undocumented immigrant activist” class
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David Leyonhjelm has called for cross-party support to pass equal marriage Get the latest LGBT headlines in your inbox with our free daily newsletter! Join Topics equal marriagegay marriagemarriage equalitysame sex marriagemarriagegay weddingSame-sex weddingweddinglesbian weddinglesbian marriageCivil partnershipsAustraliaTony AbbottsenatorKevin RuddDavid Leyonhjelm Share on WhatsApp 0 reader comments
An Australian Senator has called for cross-party cooperation in passing a new same-sex marriage bill.
The lone Liberal Democrat Senator David Leyonhjelm, who took office this month, announced last week that he would shortly introduce a bill to legalise same-sex marriage, hoping to win broad support from other parties.
He said today: “Throughout history, classical liberals have been instrumental in putting forward the case that led to the major advancements in human rights, such as the abolition of slavery and women’s suffrage.
“Once again it is the turn of classical liberals to step up for the benefit of gay, lesbian and transgender people.
“It is not the job of governments to define relationships. For those of you who have a problem with homosexuality for some reason or another, we are not asking for your approval. I ask merely for your tolerance.
“If your private life is nobody else’s business, I ask you to understand that the private life of others is none of your business, and it is simply not your role to impose your views on others.
“I ask that you understand that the liberties you care about should be available to everybody, and that there is no place in Australia for second class citizens.”
Australian Marriage Equality deputy director, Ivan Hinton said: “Senator Leyonhjelm has highlighted how allowing same-sex couples to marry is a matter of individual freedom from undue government interference in our private lives.
“This will carry weight with Coalition members who value small government and personal freedom.
“We call on Tony Abbott to allow the Coalition a conscience vote and we call on Coalition members who believe in true liberal values to come out in support of marriage equality.
“Clearly, there is support for marriage equality across the political spectrum, so we urge MPs from all parties to work together to make this reform a reality.”
The last vote on same-sex marriage in Australia was held in 2012, when the House of Representatives rejected it by 98-42, and the senate by 41-26.
The governing Liberal party has long opposed equal marriage, with Prime Minister Tony Abbott giving his backing to the successful fight to end the brief recognition of same-sex marriage in the Australian Capital Territory last year.
However, there have been some calls within his party for MPs to be allowed a free vote on the issue, with the Australian Liberal Students’ Federation passing a motion earlier this week calling for marriage equality.
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The radio station has not apologised Share on WhatsApp 0 reader comments
A Chicago radio station has mocked transgender actress Laverne Cox, referring to her using a transphobic slur.
Hip-hop station WGCI was promoting singer-songwriter John Legend’s new music video, which features the Orange is the New Black Star.
They tweeted: “Hehe Looks like John Legend has a tranny in his new video.”
Hehe Looks like John Legend has a tranny in his new video. WATCH: http://t.co/n4hUuJpKKc
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William McCrea called the Equality Commission ‘oppressive’ for saying the bakery may face legal action Get the latest LGBT headlines in your inbox with our free daily newsletter! Join Share on WhatsApp 0 reader comments
Another MP has waded into say that a bakery which refused to make a cake with the message “support gay marriage” must be protected against the “oppressive” Equality Commission.
Asher’s Baking Company, a Christian-owned bakery in Northern Ireland, refused the request of a gay rights activist for a cake showing the message
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Nigel Dodds said a conscience clause should be introduced Share on WhatsApp 50 reader comments
An MP has called for a “conscience clause” to be introduced to allow religious business owners to discriminate based on their opposition to issues like same-sex marriage.
Asher’s Baking Company, a Christian-owned bakery in Northern Ireland, refused the request of a gay rights activist for a cake showing the message
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The Church of England remains opposed to equal marriage Share on WhatsApp 2 reader comments
A priest in Worcester has questioned why the Church of England opposes same-sex marriage and says “nothing short of equality is equality.”
Reverend Canon David Rogers, associate priest for the parish of St Martin with St Peter, believes civil partnerships lack “the rich tradition of marriage”.
Writing in a parish magazine, the Ludlow Advertiser reports Canon Rogers said: “For a while I questioned whether gay marriage was the right thing. Was marriage a uniquely heterosexual institution, and was something different needed for gays? But what do you call the
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Actor and human rights activist George Takei condemned the Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby ruling Monday as a “stunning set-back for women’s reproductive rights” in a post Tuesday on his personal blog, That Blog Is So Takei.
“Hobby Lobby is not a church. It’s a business — and a big one at that. Businesses must and should be required to comply with neutrally crafted laws of general applicability,” Takei wrote. “Your boss should not have a say over your healthcare. Once the law starts permitting exceptions based on ‘sincerely held religious beliefs’ there’s no end to the mischief and discrimination that will ensue.”
In a 5-4 decision Monday, the Supreme Court ruled that closely held corporations can opt out of providing contraception coverage if it violates their sincere religious beliefs, a ruling Takei viewed as potentially skewed by the plaintiffs’ Christian faith.
“In this case, the owners happen to be deeply Christian; one wonders whether the case would have come out differently if a Muslim-run chain business attempted to impose Sharia law on its employees,” Takei said.
The “Star Trek” actor also criticized the craft store chain for spending millions of dollars on employee retirement plans that are invested in a variety of manufacturers that produce the same contraceptive products the company protested in its lawsuit.
“It also buys most of its inventory from China, where forced abortions are common,” Takei added. “The hypocrisy is galling.”
Takei urged readers to boycott Hobby Lobby and other for-profit businesses that deprive their employees of health coverage based on invasive religious beliefs.
“We are a nation that respects religious beliefs, but also the right not to have those beliefs imposed upon you by others. Our personal beliefs stop at the end of our noses,” Takei concluded. “The only way such companies ever learn to treat people with decency and tolerance is to hit them where it counts — in their pocketbooks.”
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Supreme Court Hobby Lobby Decisionof
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By Lydia O’Connor Email RSS Posted: 06/26/2014 4:02 pm EDT Updated: 06/26/2014 4:59 pm EDT Print Article Share Tweet 0 Email
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Equality News 