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☆ Bob Iger says 'woke' Disney is over, but it may not silence his critics
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Lucia Moses | Madeline Berg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Disney CEO Bob Iger wants people to know the company isn't trying to advance a political agenda. It's a message Iger has been keen to send since his return as CEO in November 2022. Peltz made "woke" Disney a plank of his campaign, questioning Marvel's "Black Panther" and "The Marvels" that cast Black and female leads, respectively. Just take the vicious online reactions to its new "Star Wars: The Acolyte" series on Disney+, made by a female showrunner. And with Iger promising the company will lean more on its beloved franchises, Disney is likely to continue being a magnet for criticism from social conservatives.

Persons: Bob Iger, aren't, —, Iger, I've, we'll, Ron DeSantis, Elon Musk, Ariel, Nelson Peltz, Peltz, Marvel's, — Iger, — Ben Hart, Star Wars Guy 💫, ake Organizations: Disney, Service, Reuters, Pixar, Florida Gov, Marvel, Financial, Star Wars Locations: Florida

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio has banned gender-affirming care for minors and restricted transgender women’s and girls’ participation on sports teams, a move that has families of transgender children scrambling over how best to care for them. The new law bans gender-affirming surgeries and hormone therapies, and restricts mental health care for transgender individuals under 18. The measure also bans transgender girls and women from girls and women’s sports teams at both the K-12 and collegiate level. One advocate, while singing that Jesus loves transgender children, was escorted out of the Senate chamber. At least 23 states have now enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, and many of those states face lawsuits.

Persons: Mike DeWine’s, Sen, Nathan Manning, Kat Scaglione’s, Amity, Matt, Lexi, we’re, ” Scaglione, “ It’s, you’re, ” DeWine, Kristina Roegner, ”, Jesus, Biden, Nickie J, Antonio, “, Maria Bruno, ___ Samantha Hendrickson Organizations: —, Republican, Statehouse, Equality Ohio, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: COLUMBUS , Ohio, — Ohio, Cuyahoga County, Amity, Ohio, Summit County, Arkansas, United States, Cleveland

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Several transgender candidates for state office in Ohio are facing challenges and even outright disqualification for omitting their former names from petition paperwork under a little-known state elections law, confronting a unique dilemma as they vie for office in increasing numbers in the face of anti-LBGTQ+ legislation. But state law mandates that candidates list any name changes in the last five years, though it isn't in the Secretary of State's 33-page candidate requirement guide. Michigan has a similar elections law, which mandates candidates list any name changes in the past decade, but it's not clear which others states have one. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesThe Ohio law has existed in some form since as early as the 1920s, and the current version has been in place since the 1990s. It's rarely been enforced in Ohio over the decades, usually in response to candidates wishing to use a nickname on the ballot.

Persons: —, Bobbie Arnold, Arienne, Angie King, It's, Vanessa Joy, Joy, it's, Frank LaRose, ” LaRose, Zephyr, “, Ari Faber, Arnold, Childrey, potty, ” ___ Samantha Hendrickson Organizations: Democratic, Republican, Ohio House, Senate, Montgomery County, Associated Press, Ohio Supreme, Washington County, Ohio Democratic Party, AP, Zooey, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: COLUMBUS , Ohio, Ohio, West Alexandria, Montgomery, Auglaize County, Michigan, Stark County, Stark, Montana, Athens , Ohio

DeSantis said last week that while Christian Ziegler is innocent until proven guilty, he should resign to avoid becoming a distraction to their party. He also didn't address his wife telling detectives that the couple and the woman had group sex once, more than a year ago. DeSantis spokesman Jeremy Redfern did not return a call and text message Sunday seeking comment on Ziegler’s refusal to resign. The rape accusation against Christian Ziegler became public last week after the Florida Center for Government Accountability, an investigative news organization, obtained a police report and the search warrant affidavits detailing the allegations. Detectives seized Christian Ziegler’s phone on Nov. 2, the affidavits say.

Persons: Christian Ziegler, Bridget Ziegler, ”, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Ziegler, “, ” Christian Ziegler, Jeremy Redfern, Liberty —, Bridget Ziegler “ couldn't, Christian Ziegler’s, Brendan Farrington Organizations: Republican Party, Liberty, Gov, GOP, Sarasota Police, Florida GOP, Walt Disney, Disney, Florida Center, Government, Associated Press Locations: FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla, Florida, Sarasota County, Tallahassee , Florida

His wife, Bridget Ziegler, told detectives that the three had engaged in sex once more than a year ago. Christian Ziegler did not immediately respond to a phone message left Saturday seeking comment. The woman told detectives that she and Christian Ziegler have known each other for more than 20 years. In a phone call, the woman told Ziegler that he had sexually assaulted her. Detectives seized Christian Ziegler’s phone on Nov. 2 and accessed his Google account two weeks ago, the affidavits say.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Christian Ziegler, Ziegler, Derek Byrd, Bridget Ziegler, DeSantis, Donald Trump, “, ” Ziegler, Nikki Fried, ” Fried, Liberty wasn't, Angela Cox, “ couldn’t, Cox, ”, Christian Ziegler’s Organizations: Florida Republican Party, LBGTQ, Police, Republican Party, Sarasota Police, Associated Press, Liberty, Florida GOP, Walt Disney, Disney, Republicans, America, Florida Democratic Party, Florida Center, Government, AP, Google Locations: FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla, Florida, Sarasota County, ”

For gay men and other LGBTQ+ people, “their friends and family may not be aware of how they identify. "And men as a category don’t meet that stereotype, even though all the research has shown us that at least 9% of sexual assault survivors are male.”__This story includes discussion of sexual assault. If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673 or go to https://hotline.rainn.org. Schultz saw others in the opera community rally around the attackers, and was criticized for besmirching the reputation of prominent gay men. Gay men often gather in bars – spaces they feel safe to be themselves.

Persons: Sam Schultz, Schultz, there’s, ” Schultz, ”, Scott Berkowitz, “, Anthony Edwards, Fatima Goss Graves, __ Schultz, David Daniels, Scott Walters, Daniels, Xerxes, didn’t, Walters, they’ve, “ You’re, Ted Gideonse, Gideonse, ” Gideonse, ‘, Mike Jeffries, Jeffries, Matthew Smith Organizations: Associated Press, Sciences, RAINN, Women’s Law Center, Legal Defense Fund, National Women’s Law, Houston’s Rice University, Houston, University of California, Washington, BBC, Abercrombie, Fitch, Abercrombie & Fitch Locations: Irvine, New York, Paris, London

☆ More than 500 companies had perfect scores on top advocacy group's LGBTQ+ index
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Courtney Reagan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

(Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)In a year stained by boycotts, protests and heightened consumer choice, hundreds of companies came through for LGBTQ+ equality, according to a leading advocacy group. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation awarded 545 companies with a perfect score on its annual Corporate Equality Index, which evaluates U.S. based companies that opt into the survey on their policies for LGBTQ+ equality. More than 800 of the 1,384 companies scored earned at least 90 of the possible 100 points. When the index first began in 2002, only 13 companies earned the highest score. Target scored a 95 this year, while Anheuser-Busch scored a 75.

Persons: Rodin Eckenroth, they're, Kelley Robinson, Robinson, JPMorgan Chase, Salesforce, Busch, Target, Brian Cornell, we've, Bud, influencer Dylan Mulvaney Organizations: Rights, Foundation, Employees, Cola, JPMorgan, HRC, Target, Anheuser, Nike Locations: Hollywood , California

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Top officials at a Florida school district ordered the removal of all books and material containing LBGTQ+ characters and themes from classrooms and campus libraries, saying that was needed to conform to a state law backed by Gov. The district later backed off a bit, allowing some exceptions for high school libraries. Political Cartoons View All 1185 ImagesThe school district did not respond to calls Wednesday from the AP seeking comment. But the group says Florida Department of Education officials are to blame for any district confusion or overreach. The school district issued a statement to Popular Information this week clarifying some of the superintendent and attorney's remarks, saying some material with LGBTQ+ themes or characters would still be available in high school libraries.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, “, Mark Vianello, Michael McKinley, ”, Read, McKinley Organizations: —, Gov, Charlotte, Florida Parental, Florida, Read, Associated Press, DeSantis, Republican, Walt Disney Co, Florida Department of Education, Vianello Locations: FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla, Florida, Fort Myers, Sarasota

LGBTQ+ people from China, frequently scorned and ostracized at home, are coming to Thailand in droves, drawn by the freedom to be themselves. Thailand doesn't keep figures on LGBTQ+ tourists. But through mid-August, it has counted 2.2 million Chinese tourists out of an overall 16 million. But LGBTQ+ people in China face other pressures to conform that can make the free expression of their identities difficult. Another draw for tourists, inside and outside the LGBTQ+ community, is Thailand’s loose enforcement of prostitution laws and renowned nightclub shows.

Persons: Xinyu Wen, Wen, “, ”, ” “, hasn't, Apichai Chatchalermkit, Owen Zhu, Jade Yang, Yang, Adisak Wongwaikankha, Eros Li, Li Organizations: Thailand Tourism Authority, The Nation Locations: BANGKOK, Thailand, Bangkok's, Thai, China, Bangkok, “, Beijing, Malaysia, Asia, asia

☆ Obama slams 'profoundly misguided' effort to ban books in message to America's librarians
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Obama slammed efforts to ban books in a message to the nation's librarians. Obama said banning books is antithetical "to what has made this country great." "It's also important to understand that the world is watching," Obama wrote in a public letter to the nation's librarians. "I believe such an approach is profoundly misguided, and contrary to what has made this country great," he wrote. According to The Post, Obama also filmed a series of TikToks with local libraries across the country to push his message.

Persons: Obama, Barack Obama, It's, Joe Biden's, Biden, MAGA Organizations: Service, Post, PEN America, The, NPR, Politico, Republican, Social Locations: Wall, Silicon, Washington

☆ Opinion: How to respond to anti-LGBTQ hate this Pride month
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Opinion Allison Hope | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

I promise there are some simple and immensely helpful ways in which LGBTQ people and allies can take action in June and every month. Don Arnold/Getty ImagesIf you don’t know where to begin with lobbying, look to an LGBTQ or civil rights group doing the hard work on the ground. Commit to learning and teaching: Even members and strong allies of the LGBTQ community can benefit from fresh learning. After all, the LGBTQ community is anything but a monolith — there are so many diverse forms of representation and a landscape that is quickly evolving. It’s also not a bad time to support brands that are supportive of the LGBTQ community.

Persons: Allison Hope, Read, Allison, ”, isn’t, ” Melanie Willingham, “, they’re, Octavio Jones, allyship, —, Don Arnold, Virginia Woolf’s, Orlando ”, Dorian Gray ”, Oscar Wilde, Janet Mock’s, ” Young, Maia Kobabe’s, Juno Dawson, Jessica Love, Wilhelmina ”, Joseph Belisle, It’s, Ron DeSantis, intersectionality, let’s Organizations: New Yorker, The New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, Slate, Allison Hope, Tampa Pride, Getty, Progress, Florida Capitol, Sydney Opera House, Volunteer, Reading, Florida Gov, Twitter, Facebook Locations: New, Florida, Tampa, Tallahassee, Australia, Virginia, Paisley, America

☆ Dozens of transgender people in Florida are crowdfunding to flee the state, and they've raised more than $200,000
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Thalia Beaty | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Dozens of transgender people in Florida are using crowdfunding to help them flee the state. In addition to banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors, the law places new restrictions on adults seeking treatment. Chelf began making plans to leave the state after Florida legislation caused her to lose access to gender affirming care. A marked increase in fundraisers to help trans people leave FloridaPeople have given more than $200,000 since January to fundraisers on GoFundMe started by trans people seeking to leave Florida, according to data from the platform. Sage Chelf shows her GoFundMe campaign to move out of Florida in Orlando, Fla., May 27, 2023.

Persons: —, Sage Chelf, Chelf, Laura Bargfeld, I'm, GoFundMe, Jalen Drummond, Ron DeSantis, Laura Bargfeld That's, Una Osili, Indiana University Lilly, Elise Colomer, it's, Jasmine Beach Organizations: Service, AP, Williams Institute, University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, Indiana University, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Southern Equality Locations: Florida, GoFundMe . Florida, Fla, Orlando, Orlando Fla, Chelf, Cheadle, Illinois, Ferrara

☆ A proposed law in Vietnam would allow people the right to change gender identity and get medical access to gender-reaffirming surgery
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A proposed Vietnam law would allow citizens to change their gender identities and get gender-affirming surgery. The proposed law might be included in the government's 2024 agenda, according to Việt Nam News. Lawmaker Nguyễn Anh Trí proposed the law which would allow people to change their gender identity, request a different gender identity from the one assigned at birth, and get gender-affirming surgery, according to The Pink News. The proposed law, which only mentions genders male and female, might be included in the government's 2024 agenda, according to Việt Nam News. As it stands, there are no regulations on gender identity in Vietnam and no laws that prohibit same-sex relationships or activities, but LGBTQ rights remain controversial, the outlet reported.

☆ Israel's 'Handmaids' become a defining image of the mass protests against Netanyahu's judicial reforms
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( Bethany Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Women dressed as "Handmaids" are at the forefront of mass protests against the Netanyahu government. Netanyahu's plans to lessen the power of the Israeli supreme court. The protests in Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities oppose Prime Minister Netanyahu's plans to lessen the power of the Israeli Supreme Court in favor of elected officials. Israeli protesters wearing costumes from ''The Handmaid's Tale'' particiapte in a rally against Israeli Goverment's judicial overhaul bills at Haogen Junctions on March 16, 2023. Gili Yaari/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesPeople around the world are also voicing concerns about Netanyahu's plans.

But they fear a harsh new anti-gay law passed by Russian lawmakers will leave them little choice. As the Kremlin prepared to finalize the expansion of the 2013 discriminatory anti-gay law, members of the LGBTQ community in Russia told CNN they feared the uncertain future ahead. Activists say a new legislative package that beefs up an existing anti-gay law is a threat to LGBTQ people in Russia. And it’s just reducing the space within which a non-heterosexual existence can comfortably take place in Russia,” Healey told CNN. Yulia Alyoshina, Russia's first transgender politician, said the new law was discriminatory and would make life tougher for Russia's LGBTQ community.

☆ Dave Chappelle on 'SNL': A timeline of the controversy around his transgender jokes
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( Scottie Andrew | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

He made explicit jokes about trans people’s bodies and referred to trans people as “transgenders,” among other comments, Vulture said. These weren’t the first jokes Chappelle had made at trans people’s expense. 2021October 5: Netflix released Chappelle’s special “The Closer.” In it, he goes on an extended tangent about transgender people and makes several jokes at their expense. October 13: Amid calls from LGBTQ advocates, fellow comedians, Netflix employees and social justice organizations to pull the special, Netflix stood by Chappelle. Dave Chappelle attends the UK premiere of "Dave Chappelle: Untitled" at Cineworld Leicester Square on October 17, 2021, in London.

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