Tag Archives: LGBT

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U.S. Supreme Court Reschedules Consideration to Hear Proposition 8 Case

U.S. Supreme Court Reschedules Consideration of Whether to Hear Proposition 8 Case 

Prop. 8 and DOMA Cases Now Distributed for Nov. 30 Conference 

Washington, DC – Today, the United States Supreme Court indicated that it has rescheduled the date when it will consider whether to grant review in Hollingsworth v. Perry (formerly Perry v. Brown), the federal constitutional challenge to California’s Proposition 8.

The Perry case, along with several cases challenging the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), have been distributed for consideration at the Justices’ private Conference scheduled for Friday, November 30. The Proposition 8 and DOMA cases had previously been distributed for the Conference of Tuesday, November 20. Continue reading →
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VanderSloot has Etch-a-Sketch Moment!

Frank VanderSloot, Melaleuca, Greta Van Susteren, Fox News, Idaho Falls, Romney, 2012
Melaleuca CEO and Romney finance co-chair, Frank VanderSloot phoned in a new chapter of his billionaire victim story to Greta Van Susteren’s Fox News show last Friday claiming he is has a target strapped to his back. VanderSloot’s latest attempt to salvage his Mr. Nice Guy brand after weeks of national news coverage about his anti-gay record and attempts to silence bloggers and journalist, was to launch a golly gee gosh some of my best friends are gay poor me media strategy.

Continue reading →
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VanderSloot’s tactics get national scrutiny

Glenn Greenwald, Jody May-Chang, ACLU, Idaho, Salon.com
Glenn Greenwald, Salon.com contributor and Constitutional litigator, pulled out both barrels to take aim at the actions of Frank VanderSloot, CEO of Melaluca, Inc., and his legal team of attack dogs.

Greenwald, who was in Boise recently to speak at the annual Bill of Rights dinner sponsored by the ACLU in Idaho, took time to visit with me after his presentation to hear about the ongoing actions of VanderSloot against the LGBT community, free speech, and hounding by his legal team to silence his critics.

With the documentation I provided to him and the intense research he compiled on his own, he posted a blazing article on Salon.com that speaks to the heart of what Idaho bloggers, news organizations, and national media outlets have confronted when bullied by VanderSloot and his lawyers.

I would like to personally thank Glenn and Salon.com for their brilliant journalism and their willingness to stick their necks out in support of me and this vital issue so aggressively. Their commitment to First Amendment and good journalism is the standard that all bloggers, journalists and media outlets should aspire too.
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VIDEO: Bryan Fischer – THE PROPAGANDIST

The Propagandist is an in-depth investigative piece about Fischer’s history in Idaho written for the Southern Poverty Law Center by Idaho journalists Jody May-Chang and Jill Kuraitis, both of whom have closely followed Fischer’s activities for many years. The article is included in a 23-page report issued by the SPLC Oct. 10, 2011 Oct 14, 2011 May-Chang discusses Fischer and the SPLC Report on Fox talk radio KLIX 1310, Twin Falls Idaho. To hear the entire KLIX interview and download the full report, “THE PROPAGANDISTS: Bryan Fischer, the American Family Association & the Demonization of LGBT People”, please visit: http://may-chang.com/?p=3686
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PODCAST: KLIX “Top Story” with Jody May-Chang Discussing Bryan Fischer & SPLC Report

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Independent journalist Jody May-Chang discusses the Southern Poverty Law Center Report: THE PROPAGANDISTS: Bryan Fischer, the American Family Association & the Demonization of LGBT People on Fox talk radio KLIX 1310, Twin Falls Idaho. Download the full Southern Poverty Law Center Report Here! Jody May-Chang, Bryan Fischer, Southern Poverty Law Center, American Family Association, AFA, SPLC, LGBT, Jill Kuraitis, KLIX, Radio, Fox, 1310, Twin Falls, Idaho
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URGENT: Please Support UUA LGBT Uganda Fund!

BREAKING UPDATE: 1:00 PM MTDT Sources in Kampala just reported the Ugandan House adjourned today without addressing the AHB. Not able to obtain a quorum with only 35 of the required 80 members to vote, the bill is expected to be on the agenda Friday May 13. The Unitarian Universalism Association is coordinating an effort over the developing human rights situation in Uganda with the escalated homophobia in light of the looming passage with the Anti-Homosexuality, expected to become law, will jail or execute LGBT Ugandans. Whether the bill passes or not, the homophobia has escalated since American Evangelicals exported hatred toward LGBT people to such a degree, LGBT Ugandans are in increasing danger of being beaten or killed. If not by the government, by angry mobs. Unitairian Universalisast United Nationa Office UU-UNO Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill LGBT The UUA is coordinating with the Unitarian Church in Kampala and extended it’s commitment commitment and support to their congregants and partners. The Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office (UU-UNO) also is pursuing opportunities for coalition work opposing the bill. And your donation to the UUA/UU-UNO LGBT Uganda Fund will continue to support important LGBT civil rights work in Uganda even if the AHB does not pass – but becomes even more essential if this bill does pass. TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION HERE NOW! Amnesty International is urging a letter writing campaign to the Uganda Parliament not to pass the bill in its current or amended form. Sign the international petition to Stop the “Kill the Gays” Law Now! Read Related Stories HERE!
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Rally Against Anti-Gay Bullying

Boise Weekly City Desk Jody May-Chang By Jody May-Chang Originally published on BoiseWeekly.com Nov. 18, 2010 About 300 braved the cold night air Nov. 16 on the steps of the Statehouse for a rally and candlelight vigil to draw attention to the increasing epidemic of youth suicide brought brought on by anti-gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender bullying in schools in Idaho and across the nation. Casey Dempsey said he witnesses bullying “almost every day” at Centennial High. “One day I was in the hall minding my own business and someone spat on me. There is nothing worse in my mind than feeling worthless and being spat on,” said Dempsey. “One day you are straight and everyone thinks you’re the coolest person, the next you’re not straight and they stop talking to you and all of a sudden you’re getting bullied by people who you were friends with just days before.” BSU student Justin Baxter described the years of bullying and taunting he endured in both middle and high school in Sandpoint, Idaho. Walking home one day after a bullying incident in his gym class locker-room, Baxter was struck in the head with a glass bottle. He fell unconscious to the grown breaking his nose as his attackers kicked him. “People do no understand what it is like to be in that kind of darkness,” said Baxter. Continue reading →
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Exporting Homophobia: American far-right conservative churches establish influence on anti-gay policy in Africa

UPDATE: May 7, 2011 Exporting Homophobia took 2nd place at the Idaho Press Club’s Best of 2010 banquet category: Weekly Print Media Watchdog / Investigative Report

What other’s are saying about Exporting Homophobia

“I was curious enough to do some research, and came across your excellent article. We’ve known for a long time about the U.S. Evangelical right exerting it’s influence in Africa…Thank you for shedding light on a truly troubling, frightening in fact, subject.” Michelle Faul, Chief Africa Correspondent, Associated Press
“Some of Jody May-Chang’s story on homophobia in Uganda you’ve heard before. If you’ve read any of writer Jeff Sharlet’s work on The Family, or heard him on NPR’s Fresh Air, much of what you’ll read in “Exporting Homophobia” will not surprise you. This month, Sharlet is back on the airwaves and back on stands with a follow-up, and May-Chang interviewed him earlier this year as that work was just going public. It’s a dense read, but one I think is worthy of the page space and your time.” – Rachel Daigle, Editor-in-Chief Boise Weekly

Exporting Homophobia: American far-right conservative churches establish influence on anti-gay policy in Africa — Gay Ugandans face daily fear for their lives

By Jody May-Chang ©2010 NEWS FEATURE STORY Originally published on BoiseWeekly.com Sept. 08, 2010 Boise Weekly Feature Story Exporting Homophobia Jody May-ChangPeter Yiga is a Ugandan born-again Christian with a degree in computer engineering. He is the father of a young child and is also a known gay activist in a country that is on a witch hunt. In February, Yiga attended a human rights conference in the capital city of Kampala. “I saw a member of parliament who attended, talking very bitter and vowing to kill everyone–including their sons and daughters–if they were proved homosexuals,” he told BW by Internet video conference from Uganda. Yiga described how he and his friends are psychologically tortured and forced to endure daily warnings and promises of being hunted down and killed. “The church and other leaders have done a lot to brainwash people, and all the community now is readily spitting fire against homosexuality. They are planning to kill or panga [machete] us. We have been running from house to house because when a neighborhood learns about your orientation, then you should expect mob justice anytime,” he said. Although homosexuality has been illegal in Uganda since the colonial era, there has been an unprecedented escalation of hatred fueled by Uganda’s pending Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009. If passed in its present form, the wide-ranging legislation calls for the death penalty for gays and lesbians who engage in sex and are HIV positive, have committed the offense of homosexuality more than once, have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol during a sexual encounter or one partner has a disability. For other, less “aggravated” offenses, they face life in prison.