Lesbian teacher wins £15000 in discrimination case

A special needs teacher in Ireland who claimed she was discriminated against for being a lesbian was given a £15,000 payout, reports The Belfast Telegraph.

Jill Young, 37, began working at the Dundonald school in September 2003. She blamed the principal for bullying and harassment and accused him of suggesting she should leave. She left after three years.

The South Eastern Education and Library Board agreed to pay the money without admitting liability.

8 things gay people can’t do

Ranker.com user cdu827 created a [mostly US based] list of things gay people can’t do:

After Gay Pride in Los Angeles this last weekend, and the recent news that the ban on gay men giving blood may have a hard time being overturned, and ENDA being in question again, we thought it would be a good time to give the world a reminder of things that gay people still can’t do (but should be able to); from donating blood to even living in certain communities. Hopefully this list is an eye-opener for people (of any sexual orientation) who aren’t paying attention.

View the list »

What do you think? Is anything missing from the list? Reblog and share your thoughts!

City can’t force owner to remove “to be gay = death” sign

A Wyoming man who has painted “to be gay = death,” on his fence near a high school cannot be forced to remove it, according to city officials.

According to the report by trib.com, the sign is placed where many students walk to high school. Chris Trumbull claims that he painted it there because “because society is not looking at the truth.”

The sign is Trumbull’s interpretation of the Bible passage Leviticus 20:13, which states:

If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

After refusing to remove the message when asked, city officials claim that the message is protected speech and there was nothing the city could do to remove it.

(Photo: Dan Cepeda/Star-Tribune)

Kentucky teen kidnapped, almost pushed off cliff for being gay

A homosexual Kentucky teenager was kidnapped last Friday in an attempt to push her off a cliff.

According to LEX18, Kentucky State Police are investigating an incident where 18 year old Cheyenne Williams was kidnapped by three teens; 18 year old Ashley Sams, 18 year old Corinne Schwab and a juvenile.

Williams was brought to Flat Lick Falls where the three attempted to push her over a cliff. Williams escaped and ran to help.

All three are being charged with criminal attempt to commit murder and kidnapping. 

LEX 18 reports that friends have told the station that Williams was attacked for one reason only—because she is homosexual.

(Photo: LEX18)

Day of Silence on Twitter: Equalitopia’s Photo Project

Equalitopia is running this campaign to promote awareness on Twitter and to allow participants to creatively express their support.

The Day of Silence is the GLSEN’s annual day of action to create awareness of the bullying and harassment that many lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students go through. Supporters take a vow of silence to protest and raise awareness about these issues.

Add Your Photo to the Project »

Equalitopia and this project are not affiliated with GLSEN.

Tennessee student ordered to change ‘gay’ Lady Gaga t-shirt

A Tennessee high school student’s mother said her son’s rights were violated by school officials who made him remove a T-shirt bearing the word “gay.”

Julie Gordon, mother of Cole Goforth, said officials at Greenbrier High School violated her 15-year-old son’s freedom of speech and expression by sending him home to change out of a T-shirt reading: “I Heart Lady Gay Gay,” a play on the name of singer Lady Gaga, reports WSMV-TV.

Cole and his mother said they feel he is being singled out for his orientation and method of dress. “I just think my sexuality isn’t widely accepted around here, so of course they are going to single me out,” he said.

Danny Weeks, assistant director of the school board, said: “We’ve had a few disruptions the last few days, and we thought the slogan on that shirt would continue to escalate those incidents that had occurred.”

Lady GaGa has since Tweeted Cole, offering her support.

School Cancels Prom Over Lesbian Couple, Lawsuit Filed Against School

18-year-old Constance McMillen is filing a lawsuit against her Mississippi high school, after the school’s prom was cancelled when she asked to attend with her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo.

ABC News reports that according to the lawsuit, the couple must arrive seperately, and “if any of the other students complained about their presence there together,” they could be thrown out. According to the lawsuit, the school says that boys are supposed to attend in tuxedos and girls in dresses.

McMillen has been facing issues in school since the incident, people were being hostile towards her for the cancellation. A student told her “thanks for ruining my senior year,” according to the Associated Press.

The media has been all over this story, with people posting the story throughout social networking sites, and creating Facebook Fan Pages for her. On her Facebook profile, people have been showing their support, and one even went so far as to inviting her to be flown out to an LGBT-friendly prom.

Equalitopia has requested an interview with Constance, but has not yet received a reply.

Did your high school allow same-sex couples to proms? Reblog with your reply.

America’s Opinion: Gays Receive the Most Discrimination.

A report by Pew Research:

A plurality of the public (45%) believes that gays and lesbians face “a lot” of bias — roughly double the proportions that see widespread discrimination against blacks (18%) or Hispanics (23%), and three-to five-times the proportion that sees similarly high levels of prejudice directed at women, Asian Americans or whites. The latest Pew Research survey of racial attitudes finds that overall, nearly eight-in-ten (78%) adults say gays and lesbians face at least “some” discrimination. Even blacks see discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation as more pervasive than racial bias against blacks.

Broken down by ethnicity:

Breaking it down further, respondents who say gays & lesbians receive “a lot” of discrimination:

• 43% of Whites
• 55% of Blacks
• 47% of Hispanics
• 45% Overall

Read the full report »

Statewide School Laws and Policies

Dark blue: States with law that addresses discrimination, harassment and/or bullying of students based on sexual orientation and gender identity (10 states and D.C.)

Light blue: States with law that addresses discrimination, harassment and/or bullying of students based on sexual orientation (14 states and D.C.)

* Regulations and Ethical Codes of Conduct: States with school regulation or ethical code for teachers that addresses discrimination, harassment and/or bullying of students based on sexual orientation (3 states)

** Policies/No Categories: States that prohibit bullying in schools but list no categories of protection (24 states)

(via the Human Rights Campaign)

fuckyeahlgbt:

From Think Before You Speak.

Tell someone today why it’s wrong to use homophobic slurs and pass on the message.