Obama mentions trans people, bisexuals, lesbians in state of union address
US President Barack Obama used the words “transgender,” “bisexual” and “lesbian” for the first time ever in a state of the union address Jan 20. Obama said he would “condemn the persecution of women, or religious minorities, or people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.” He also applauded that gay marriage had gone “from a wedge issue used to drive us apart to a story of freedom across our country.” Obama has used the word “gay” before, in a state of the union address in 2013.
Anderson Cooper lampoons the “gay agenda”
After a Christian pastor accused the media of promoting a “gay agenda,” openly gay news anchor Anderson Cooper responded with a pained and sarcastic rant on his CNN show. “I’ve never actually been to the secret meeting where the gays plot their agenda, though I imagine the catering is quite amazing,” he said.
Bakery investigated for refusing to make anti-gay cake
A bakery in Denver, Colorado, is under investigation for religious discrimination after staff refused to bake a cake decorated with the words “God hates gays.” The cake was for a Christian educator, who wanted pictures of Bibles with anti-gay messages, as well as two men holding hands covered by a red X. The case is a mirror image of a number of recent cases in which Christian bakers have been accused of discrimination for refusing to bake wedding cakes for gay weddings.
Thai Buddhist abbot resigns after “unconscious” gay sex
A Thai Buddhist abbot will be forced to step down after he admitted to having sex with a male disciple. Phra Kasem Arjinnasilo says he does not need to leave the priesthood, however, because the sexual encounter happened “without consciousness.”
Read more at the Bangkok Post.
Macedonia votes for constitutional ban on gay marriage
The parliament of Macedonia voted 72 to four on Jan 20 to define marriage as between one man and one woman. The bill would make marriage a constitutional issue so that parliament would need a two-thirds majority to reverse it in future. The amendment still requires one more vote and presidential approval to pass.
Read more at the European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBT Rights.