- 18 November 2016
- From the section Middle East
Sunday, November 20, 2016
Potential Supreme Court nominee who wants gays jailed denies posing nude for gay adult site
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Trump attacks Hamilton cast as he fails to understand what harassment is
Trump attacks Hamilton cast as he fails to understand what harassment is
Trump took to his favourite outlet, Twitter, in an attempt to bring shame on the cast who addressed Mike Pence when he attended the show yesterday evening.
Pence was booed by the audience in Hamilton throughout the play which sparked the cast’s decision to deliver an important message on diversity to the vice president elect.
Trump accused the cast of harassing and being rude to Pence when delivering their message about acceptance, and then ordered them to apologise.
Trump has proved his understanding of the meaning of harassment is vague, having made comments about engaging in sexual harassment, faced a lawsuit from a gay ex-employee who alleges he was sacked after complaining about homophobic harassment, and riled his supporters into harassing people.
Brandon Dixon who plays vice-president Aaron Burr in Hamilton, addressed Pence directly after the show was finished.
“Mike Pence we welcome you here. We are the diverse Americans who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights.
“Sir, we truly hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and work on behalf of all of us.
“We thank you for sharing this wonderful American story, told by a diverse group of men and women of different colours, creeds and orientations.
Dixon encouraged the audience to share the speech online, stating that “there is nothing to boo here, ladies and gentlemen, we are sharing a story of love,” Dixon added.
Trump’s response to the short speech has caused backlash, with many tweeting at the president elect to remind him of freedom of speech in America.
One user wrote: “Here’s the deal: in America, we have freedom of speech. When you offend people or practice hate, they can speak out.”
“Hamilton Cast: Please keep ALL people in mind when running our country. Donald Trump: STOP HARASSING MY VP! SAFE SPACE SAFE SPACE!”
“You think you can set things back for gays and Hispanics and then they will sing & dance for you on the weekends? #no,” wrote another.
OPINION: The gross dismissal of gay refugees breaks my f*cking heart
OPINION: The gross dismissal of gay refugees breaks my f*cking heart
- 9
Tue 18th Oct, 2016 in Local News
I’ve
written about gay refugees before, in particular the young man I’ve
been in regular contact with for the greater part of this year, Mahmud*.
Mahmud is an Iranian man currently being held in detention on Manus Island. He’s gay, though not openly so. He’s eloquently spoken, gentle and clearly intelligent. He’s interested in literature (“but it’s hard to find books here”) and has been on Manus Island for around three years.
He also faces the possibility of imprisonment or execution upon return to Iran or release in Papua New Guinea. Because of his sexuality.
I’m writing about Mahmud again because of the horrifically dismissive comments made today by the secretary of the Immigration Department, Mike Pezzullo.
It emerged this morning that Pezzullo said the Australian government had “acquitted its non-refoulement obligations over two-and-a-half years ago” when agreements with the PNG government were drawn up by the Rudd/Gillard governments.
“In other words, the Australian government has no responsibility to those gay men who are currently detained on Manus, in terms of whether their human rights in relation to their sexuality will be upheld in Papua New Guinea or not?” asked Labor senator Louise Pratt.
“The Australian government – a number of governments, actually, that straddle several parliamentary terms – discharged all of its legal undertakings at the time of the transfer, yes,” he said.
Translation: dump them wherever, we’ve washed our hands of them.
Not that it needs reiteration, but this is a prominent member of our parliament disregarding the very real fact that dozens of gay men are essentially being handed jail time for their sexuality. This is our country being openly – even proudly? – complicit in abuse; knowingly turning a blind eye to the horrific situation those like Mahmud currently find themselves in.
“I normally spend my time in my small bed space which is covered by sheets to make a little bit of privacy,” Mahmud once told me.
“I used to write my book which is almost finished, but I am suffering from severe mental health depression so I have lost all my mood and hope. Now I just lie on my bed or sleep to kill time.”
“I wish I had the mood to complete it, but the circumstances here don’t let me. I have no mood for anything.”
Mahmud’s sexuality shouldn’t be his defining feature. In fact, it is only worth noting due to the additional threat it poses to his immediate safety. Mahmud has spoken to me about one openly gay man being harassed and ridiculed by guards and fellow detainees to the point of willingly returning to the dangers of his war-torn home country.
“They were following him to the shower room and toilet, knocking at his door and asking for sex all the time,” he said. “They were calling him a pufte (sic) and asshole.”
This is the “impossible catch-22” the gay men of Manus are in.
“On one hand, you risk stigma, punishment and/or rejection by revealing that your sexual orientation or gender identity is the basis of your claim. Alternatively, you can remain silent, and be returned to the country where you faced a well-founded fear of persecution,” Senthorun Raj, scholar at the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice at New York University, once wrote.
If I could burn just one paragraph into the forehead of those like Pezzullo, backwards, so they could read it while looking in the mirror after a long day of spinelessness, it would be this:
“I never planned for Australia. It was my only choice. I expected there would be lots of ups and downs, but I hoped there would be a sanctuary somewhere. I haven’t found it so far.”
Mahmud is an Iranian man currently being held in detention on Manus Island. He’s gay, though not openly so. He’s eloquently spoken, gentle and clearly intelligent. He’s interested in literature (“but it’s hard to find books here”) and has been on Manus Island for around three years.
He also faces the possibility of imprisonment or execution upon return to Iran or release in Papua New Guinea. Because of his sexuality.
I’m writing about Mahmud again because of the horrifically dismissive comments made today by the secretary of the Immigration Department, Mike Pezzullo.
It emerged this morning that Pezzullo said the Australian government had “acquitted its non-refoulement obligations over two-and-a-half years ago” when agreements with the PNG government were drawn up by the Rudd/Gillard governments.
“In other words, the Australian government has no responsibility to those gay men who are currently detained on Manus, in terms of whether their human rights in relation to their sexuality will be upheld in Papua New Guinea or not?” asked Labor senator Louise Pratt.
“The Australian government – a number of governments, actually, that straddle several parliamentary terms – discharged all of its legal undertakings at the time of the transfer, yes,” he said.
Translation: dump them wherever, we’ve washed our hands of them.
Not that it needs reiteration, but this is a prominent member of our parliament disregarding the very real fact that dozens of gay men are essentially being handed jail time for their sexuality. This is our country being openly – even proudly? – complicit in abuse; knowingly turning a blind eye to the horrific situation those like Mahmud currently find themselves in.
“I normally spend my time in my small bed space which is covered by sheets to make a little bit of privacy,” Mahmud once told me.
“I used to write my book which is almost finished, but I am suffering from severe mental health depression so I have lost all my mood and hope. Now I just lie on my bed or sleep to kill time.”
“I wish I had the mood to complete it, but the circumstances here don’t let me. I have no mood for anything.”
Mahmud’s sexuality shouldn’t be his defining feature. In fact, it is only worth noting due to the additional threat it poses to his immediate safety. Mahmud has spoken to me about one openly gay man being harassed and ridiculed by guards and fellow detainees to the point of willingly returning to the dangers of his war-torn home country.
“They were following him to the shower room and toilet, knocking at his door and asking for sex all the time,” he said. “They were calling him a pufte (sic) and asshole.”
This is the “impossible catch-22” the gay men of Manus are in.
“On one hand, you risk stigma, punishment and/or rejection by revealing that your sexual orientation or gender identity is the basis of your claim. Alternatively, you can remain silent, and be returned to the country where you faced a well-founded fear of persecution,” Senthorun Raj, scholar at the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice at New York University, once wrote.
If I could burn just one paragraph into the forehead of those like Pezzullo, backwards, so they could read it while looking in the mirror after a long day of spinelessness, it would be this:
“I never planned for Australia. It was my only choice. I expected there would be lots of ups and downs, but I hoped there would be a sanctuary somewhere. I haven’t found it so far.”
Activists cover chief rabbi’s office with rainbows after anti-LGBT comments
Activists decorated an anti-LGBT Rabbi’s bureau with rainbow flags in protest of anti-LGBT comments he made earlier this week.
Left-wing part Meretz arranged the protest, which also saw chalk drawings of rainbows on the floor outside of the Rabbi’s office.
The
image was shared online, alongside a message the activists wished to
relay to the rabbi: “May you have a week of love, pride and full
acceptance of the other.”
The group were protesting against Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar who told an Israeli newspaper earlier this week that the “abomination” of homosexuality is punishable by execution under Jewish law.
Amor said it was “clear that it [homosexuality] is abomination. The Torah punishes it with death. This is in the first line of serious sins”,
The Rabbit also reportedly said homosexuality was something individuals could choose to resist because it is “lust.”
Since
making the claims, political and community leaders have called for him
to be removed from his role as the current leader of the Sephardic
Jewish community in Jerusalem.
The Prime Minister of Israel has also received complaint letters from MP’s about comments made by the rabbi, which aren’t the first to be anti-LGBT.
He has called Jerusalem’s gay Pride parade “an embarrassing phenomenon” and a “desecration of God’s name in Jerusalem.”
Rabbi Amar also bashed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating that his support for Pride parade made him unfit for the roll.
Rabbi Amar did denounced the murder of Israeli teen Shira Banki at the city’s gay pride parade in 2015, describing it as “terrible act of blood-letting.”
Israel has the most progressive attitudes towards LGBT issues in the Middle East as same-sex marriages are recognised, despite not not being performed in the country.
Left-wing part Meretz arranged the protest, which also saw chalk drawings of rainbows on the floor outside of the Rabbi’s office.
The group were protesting against Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar who told an Israeli newspaper earlier this week that the “abomination” of homosexuality is punishable by execution under Jewish law.
Amor said it was “clear that it [homosexuality] is abomination. The Torah punishes it with death. This is in the first line of serious sins”,
The Rabbit also reportedly said homosexuality was something individuals could choose to resist because it is “lust.”
The Prime Minister of Israel has also received complaint letters from MP’s about comments made by the rabbi, which aren’t the first to be anti-LGBT.
He has called Jerusalem’s gay Pride parade “an embarrassing phenomenon” and a “desecration of God’s name in Jerusalem.”
Rabbi Amar also bashed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating that his support for Pride parade made him unfit for the roll.
Rabbi Amar did denounced the murder of Israeli teen Shira Banki at the city’s gay pride parade in 2015, describing it as “terrible act of blood-letting.”
Israel has the most progressive attitudes towards LGBT issues in the Middle East as same-sex marriages are recognised, despite not not being performed in the country.
Saturday, November 19, 2016
Israel Chief Rabbi Amar condemned for 'gay death penalty' comment
Israel Chief Rabbi Amar condemned for 'gay death penalty' comment
Israeli political
and community leaders have called for a top Jerusalem rabbi to be fired
after he said Jewish law prescribed the death penalty for gays.
Sephardi
Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar told Israel Hayom newspaper homosexuality was a
"cult of abomination", which the Torah "punishes... with death".Several members of parliament have written to the prime minister to complain.
Rabbi Amar has previously been criticised for similar past remarks.
Last year he was rebuked for saying most people were "disgusted" by homosexuality, and calling Jerusalem's annual gay pride parade "an embarrassing phenomenon".
In an interview with Israel Hayom, Rabbi Amar said it was "clear that it [homosexuality] is abomination. The Torah punishes it with death. This is in the first line of serious sins."
Rabbi Amar was quoted as saying homosexuality was a "lust" which could be resisted "as with any other kind of lust".
Although a fierce critic of homosexuality, in 2015 Rabbi Amar denounced the murder by an ultra-Orthodox Jew of an Israeli teenager at the city's gay pride parade as "a terrible act of blood-letting... nothing can justify it".
In response to Rabbi Amar's latest remarks, several members of parliament and leaders of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, said he should be sacked.
"A public figure that puts Israeli citizens' life at risk using incitement and exclusion should be immediately fired," three MPs said in a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
An LGBT activist, Shirley Kleinman, made a complaint to police, accusing Rabbi Amar of incitement to murder.
"Let's try and ensure that this man will not remain in his key public position," Ms Kleinman said on her Facebook page.
"This is not an anti-religious issue... I do have an interest to protect my rights and your rights to live, and [to live with] dignity."
Friday, November 18, 2016
Donald Trump's first leadership picks: Racists, autocrats, and crooks, oh my!
Donald Trump's first leadership picks: Racists, autocrats, and crooks, oh my!
Shared by
The Week
The Week
theweek.com - Donald
Trump's first nominations for his presidency are coming out, and the
picks are about as bad as can be imagined. For national security
adviser, Trump has picked retired General Michael Flynn,...
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
One of Trump’s potential Supreme Court nominees thinks gay people should be jailed for having sex
One of Trump’s potential Supreme Court nominees thinks gay people should be jailed for having sex
Despite President-elect Trump saying that same-sex marriage is “settled”, he also said he wanted to appoint justices who would challenge the 1973 abortion rights ruling Roe v Wade.
The former Alabama Attorney General upheld a law in 2003 in Texas which criminalises consensual gay sex, comparing it to “polygamy, incest, pedophilia, prostitution, and adultery”.
Arguing that LGBT people were not protected by the US Constitution, Pryor said states should be able to criminally charge gay people for having sex.
“This Court has never recognised a fundamental right to engage in sexual activity outside of monogamous heterosexual marriage, let alone to engage in homosexual sodomy,” wrote Pryor.
“Such a right would be antithetical to the ‘traditional relation of the family’ that is ‘as old and as fundamental as our entire civilisation.”
“Texas is hardly alone in concluding that homosexual sodomy may have severe physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual consequences, which do not necessarily attend heterosexual sodomy, and from which Texas’s citizens need to be protected,” he wrote.
Going on, he said there was “no fundamental right to engage in homosexual sodomy just because it is done behind closed doors… Because homosexual sodomy has not historically been recognised in this country as a right; to the contrary, it has historically been recognised as a wrong. It is not a fundamental right.”
So Trump could appoint a justice who has bee described by Lambda Legal as “the most demonstrably anti-gay judicial nominee in recent memory.”
Kevin Cathcart, Lambda Legal’s executive director adds that Pryor blocked a law which would have allowed same-sex couples in Florida to adopt.
“Several judges on the appeals court wanted to hear the case and said the law raised ‘serious and substantial questions,’ but William Pryor kept that from happening,” wrote Cathcart.
“As a result, lesbians and gay men in Florida cannot adopt children who need permanent, loving homes.”
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