Heineken, the King of Norway and the Star Spangled Banner

Your Daily Package of newsy and naughty bits from around the world


Lesbian soccer star joins anthem protest

Seattle Reign lesbian soccer star Megan Rapinoe took a knee during the Star Spangled Banner at a game Sunday, in solidarity with black football player Colin Kaepernick’s protest against racial injustice. “Being a gay American, I know what it means to look at the flag and not have it protect all of your liberties,” Rapinoe said.

Read more at the Guardian.

King of Norway appeals for tolerance

In a speech at a royal palace garden party, Norway’s King Harald has appealed to his country to be more accepting, including of immigrants and LGBT people. “Norwegians are girls who love girls. Boys who love boys. And boys and girls who love each other,” he said.

Read more at The Local.

First Anglican bishop comes out

The Bishop of Grantham has come out as gay, and in a long-term celibate relationship, after he was threatened with outing by a British tabloid. Unlike straight Anglican clergy, gay clergy are not allowed to marry, and must be celibate according to church guidelines.

Read more at Sky News.

Neil Patrick Harris double entendre

Gay actor Neil Patrick Harris has raised eyebrows on Twitter with a new ad for Heineken full of gay innuendo. In the ad he discusses with a bearded barbecuer whether it is ever appropriate to “flip another man’s meat.”

Bruni: Gay issues will make a difference this election

At the New York Times, columnist Frank Bruni points to a number of congressional races in the United States’ November elections that could be swayed by shifting opinion on LGBT rights. This could be the election, he argues, when gay rights leave a real mark on the electoral map.

Niko Bell

Niko Bell is a writer, editor and translator from Vancouver. He writes about sexual health, science, food and language.

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