Vancouver gay bars join in Russian vodka ban to protest persecution

in: http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2013/07/26/21002231.html



Russian vodka is being sent to the gulag by at least two Vancouver nightspots who refuse to serve brands from where Vladimir Putin calls home to protest Moscow’s recent repressive laws against homosexuals.

The Russian president recently enacted laws meant to restrict homosexuals from living openly in the country, even threatening to arrest openly gay tourists who visit for next year’s Sochi Winter Olympics.

The country has also passed laws forbidding Russian babies from being adopted by same-sex couples.

The new laws don’t jive with Drew Watling.

The manager of the Fountainhead Pub has pulled Russian vodka brands from his bar. Furthermore, if Moscow hasn’t backtracked on its new laws by the time of the Games, the sports bar won’t be screening them.

“We’re just taking a stand in solidarity and support for the LGBT community worldwide,” Watling said. “If enough people stand up and say something then hopefully it’ll get a lot more notoriety and get people talking.”

Celebrities nightclub, located across the street from the Fountainhead, said on its Facebook page it also won’t be selling Russian vodka, demonstrating solidarity with numerous watering holes across North America that have started similar boycotts.

Sitting at the bar Thursday, drinking a lager, patron Scott Finch said he’s in support of the boycott, calling Putin’s actions against gays “criminal.” “I’ve tried to avoid anything to do with Russia for a long time,” said Finch

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2013/07/26/21002231.html

Threatening letters sent to lesbian couple

in: http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2013/07/22/20991881.html

This threatening letter was sent to a same-sex couple in Kingston, Ont. Click here to read the full letter.(Supplied)

 

 

Police are investigation after a same-sex couple in Kingston received two threatening letters urging them to move out of town or face violence.

Susan Belyea and Karen Dubinsky received the letter from “a small but dedicated group of Kingston residents devoted to removing the scourge of homosexuality in our city.”

“Some of the group’s younger members would have fun chasing ‘lesbos,’” the second letter stated. “We have brought them BB guns and today they are going to target practice, so they can hunt you down.”

The group said they “know (the couple) and have been following (them) for the past several weeks and we wish for you to leave this city before it’s too late,” adding that they should relocate to Vancouver or San Francisco.

“This will be the first of many reminders, each escalating to higher and higher levels of harassment and derailment,” the first letter stated.

“If you do not, and take this letter to police, as we expect, we will know about this, since we have contacts in the Kingston police. Our efforts to relocate you will escalate. We wish to avoid this scenario.”

The couple, who notified police upon receiving the letter, has also reached out to local LGBTQ activists to find more information about the assailants.

Deb Kinder, women’s community development coordinator at HIV/AIDS Regional Services, who knows the couple, posted the letters on Facebook after being told of their violent content, hoping to find the source.

“Of course I would guess whoever they might be are very cowardly because they left no way of anyone contacting them.”

This isn't the first time the LGBTQ community in Kingston has faced hatred.

On May 31, anti-gay posters were plastered downtown prior to the city’s flag raising ceremony, which marked the beginning of Pride Month in the city.

Kinder also said another same-sex couple in Kingston reached out to her and told her they had also received similar letters a few years ago.

During the pride parade this year, a woman parked a car to block the parade and refused to move when asked by police.

Despite claims in the letters of police insiders, Kingston police Chief Gilles Larochelle said the force has no connection with the group responsible for the letters, referring to the incident as “bizarre.”

A rally was held Friday in support of the couple.


 http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2013/07/22/20991881.html

Tim Hortons will unblock gay news website on WiFi

in: http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2013/07/19/20987456.html







Tim Hortons said Friday it will unblock the gay and lesbian news website DailyXtra.com on its in-store WiFi networks after the site received complaints from readers who couldn't access it while enjoying their double-doubles.

"The site never should have been blocked in the first place, so we're working at unblocking it and rectifying that situation," spokeswoman Michelle Robichaud told QMI Agency.

DailyXtra.com, the website for the free newspaper Xtra that's distributed in Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver, said it asked to have the site unblocked but received an e-mail saying the site is "not appropriate for all ages viewing in a public environment."

Robichaud said that response came from the third-party company that runs their screening process.

"Sometimes websites get caught in a screen or in a filter in error - which may have happened in this situation, I'm not exactly sure."

Earlier this year Second Cup unblocked the site on its WiFi network after it was brought to their attention, Xtra said, adding Starbucks "doesn't block anything; watch all the porn you want here, but wear earphones."


http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2013/07/19/20987456.html

Today in LGBT History

July 9, 1986 – The Parliament of New Zealand passes the Homosexual Law Reform Act legalising homosexuality in New Zealand.

Our thoughts on the LGBT Pride Parade 2013 (June 8, in Edmonton, AB, Canada)

Today in LGBT History

July 3, 2005 – Same-sex marriage in Spain becomes legal.

Toronto shows its Pride

in: http://www.torontosun.com/2013/06/30/torontos-pride-parade-attracts-huge-crowd

Toronto’s 33rd annual Pride parade lived up to its expectations as participants strutted through downtown streets in extravagant costumes — or nothing at all.

The huge crowds of spectators — as well as those taking part in the parade — were in high spirits as they took over Yonge St. Sunday for one of the world’s largest Pride events.

“We continue to grow, and our supporters continue to grow, so we’re accommodating for that growth by extending the parade to Yonge and Dundas for the first time,” said Kevin Beaulieu, the Executive Director for Pride Toronto said.

Premiere Kathleen Wynne became the first Ontario premier to take part in the parade. Other politicians who took part in the event included Federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau.

Both attended a church service held before the parade kicked off.

Neither Trudeau nor Wynne were willing to comment at the parade itself, but both tweeted they were honoured to march together and show their support for Toronto’s gay community.

It’s an honour shared by Irene Miller, Toronto President of PFLAG (Parents For Lesbians And Gays), and the official grand marshall of Toronto Pride 2013.

“It’s an honor to be the grand marshall this year, especially in a progressive city like Toronto,” Miller said.

Miller added she’s looking forward to meeting with other PFLAG members and organizers from around the world at World Pride, which will take place in Toronto next June.

World Pride will attract people from around the globe. Pride Toronto has been preparing for the event since the group won the bid to host it in 2009, Beaulieu said.

It will be the first time the event will be hosted in a North American city.

“World Pride is an opportunity to remember we are part of a global community that is still facing issues, and after seeing the support, I know Toronto will be a great host,” Beaulieu said.

http://www.torontosun.com/2013/06/30/torontos-pride-parade-attracts-huge-crowd