Attack on French magazine Charlie Hebdo kills 12
Gunmen claiming to be from Al Qaeda stormed the offices of French magazine Charlie Hebdo Jan 7, killing 12 people in an editorial meeting. The attack may have been a response to a cartoon cover on the satirical magazine showing a Muslim man kissing another man, with the title “Love is stronger than hate.” The gunmen escaped by car and are still at large.
Atlanta mayor fires fire chief for anti-gay book
The mayor of Atlanta has fired the city’s fire chief for publishing a book that called homosexuality a “sexual perversion” equivalent to bestiality. Mayor Kasim Reed said Chief Kelvin Cochran’s book made it impossible for him to manage a diverse workforce. The mayor stressed, “This is not about religious freedom; this is not about free speech,” in response to Cochran supporters who say he is being targeted for his religious beliefs.
Read more at The Washington Post.
Florida archbishop: support gay marriage and I’ll fire you
Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski has told church employees they could be fired if they express support for newly married gay couples in Florida, where same-sex marriage has just been legalized. “Employees should exercise discretion when posting on social media sites, and note that online activity indicative of prohibitive behaviors may subject an employee to disciplinary action or termination,” he writes.
Four injured in Russian nightclub attack
Intruders attacked patrons at a Russian gay nightclub, injuring four and hospitalizing one over the weekend in the southern city of Tolyatti. Owners of the nightclub tried to downplay the attack as a bar fight, but local activists are urging the victims to press charges.
Director defends straight-washed DVD cover
The director of Pride, a movie about gay activists supporting striking mineworkers in the 1980s, says he understands why gay content was scrubbed from the movie’s DVD cover in the US version. “Changing the cover is kind of clumsy and a bit foolish, but this is a film that is loved by people of all political persuasions and sexual orientations,” he said. “I’m just keen for as many people who have yet to see the film to see it.” CBS Films, Pride’s American distributor, says it is investigating why the changes were made.
Ireland is amused by “the sounds of sodomy” pamphlet
Twitter users in Ireland are having a good time with a Christian pamphlet that warns that if gay adoption is legalized, children could be exposed to “the sounds of sodomy.” “You prob haven’t heard #soundsofsodomy, but they are like, reeeally big in Japan,” one tweeter wrote. Ireland will face a referendum on gay marriage and adoption this spring.
Video credit: YouTube, RT
Photo: Charlie Hedbo
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