Backlash against My Husband’s Not Gay
Critics say TLC should pull its new show My Husband’s Not Gay, about Mormon men who are attracted to men but choose to marry women. In a premise ThinkProgress writer Jessica Goldstein calls “uncomfortable and vaguely sad,” the men talk about how they would really like to be attracted to women and how they hope to “overcome” their homosexuality with the help of God. GLAAD president Sarah Kate Ellis called the show “downright irresponsible” in its suggestion that gay people can change their orientation, and nearly 100,000 people have signed a change.org petition to cancel the show.
Vietnam angles for gay tourism
As Vietnam dropped its ban on gay marriage New Year’s Day, the country is positioning itself as Asia’s new gay tourism destination. While gay marriage is still not officially recognized, the move to acknowledge that gay marriages are acceptable and not harmful to society still positions Vietnam ahead of most of its Asian neighbours.
Read more at The Boston Globe.
Florida gay marriages top 1,400
In the two days since same-sex marriage became legal in Florida, about 1,400 gay couples have married. Court clerks have seen three or four times as many weddings daily as on a usual day in urban centres like Miami and Orlando.
Read more from the Associated Press.
Saks Fifth Avenue claims right to discriminate against trans people
Defending against a lawsuit from a former employee, American luxury clothing chain Saks Fifth Avenue has claimed that trans people are not protected from discrimination under the law. A sales associate in Houston, Leyth Jamal, alleges that the store forced her to use the men’s washroom and that managers harassed her for wearing feminine clothing and makeup. In its defence, Saks Fifth Avenue lawyers claim that the store is not bound by its own non-discrimination policy and that trans people should not be covered by laws against gender discrimination — despite the store’s boasts about its high score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.
600 arrested for gay sex last year in India
According to Indian government statistics, nearly 600 people were arrested last year for gay sex, far more than previously estimated. Delhi led the country with more than 100 arrests. India enjoyed a brief reprieve from its anti-sodomy laws after they were struck down by a court in 2009, but they were reinstated in 2013 by another higher court ruling.
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