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Evangelical Pastor Claims Being Gay Is A “Cover Up” For A Spirit Attacking Evangelicals Gay Couple That Adopted A Baby They Found In The Subway Tells Their Heartwarming Story 4 Pro Tips For How To Be The Best Trans Ally Possible Drag Race’s Rock M. Sakura Reveals Sex Work Past In Wake Of Atlanta Killings Doctors Told Not To Test For STI That Affects Many Gay Men To Prevent A Super “Bug” Kate Winslet Knows Four Queer Actors Who Refuse To Come Out
LGBTQ Travel Safety in Croatia: 39th Most Popular Country in the World FL Legislature Risks Losing NCAA Events By Fast Tracking Trans Sports Bans Get A Free Krispy Kreme Doughnut Every Day This Year For Showing Your COVID-19 Vaccination Card Pete Buttigieg Had To Go On TV To Tell Ignorant Republicans “You Need Water To Live”
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Evangelical Pastor Claims Being Gay Is A “Cover Up” For A Spirit Attacking Evangelicals By Jennifer Davis
Robin D. Bullock, a born-again Christian pastor and selfproclaimed “prophet,” responded to prayer requests at his last church service that largely asked for healing from three “afflictions”: cancer, diabetes, and homosexuality. So Bullock made a revelation, which he had from God directly, that “homosexuality is a cover up for an evangelist.” Extremism watchdogs Right Wing Watch documented Bullock’s comments from the end of his two-plus hour church service. Bullock preaches at his own Church International, streaming online as “The Eleventh Hour.” “As far as homosexuality, this is what I heard. I’m going to tell you something, and I want everyone to take heed. This is what I’ve heard from the Lord,” Bullock said. “Homosexuality is a cover up for an evangelist,” he declared. Bullock believes that being gay is just behavior caused by a ‘spirit’ keeping an evangelist from being their true selves. “People that are in that lifestyle are really called [to be] evangelists by the Lord, and this is a spirit that attacks that 06 www.cityxtramagazine.com
to stop it. “So, instead of just praying a lot of things right here, what I’m led to do is to call forth the gift of evangelism that God has placed on their lives, to come forth and it will drive that other out.” He then began “calling” for the “gift” to “come forth” in his followers seeking healing.
Why would you say that in public?’ Because he is!” “Don’t mess with us, Satan. Don’t mess with us, corrupt political regimes,” he preached early in March. “Don’t mess with God’s people like that because I’m going to tell you something: If you mess with us, we’ll call him back for three “I call for the gift of evangelism, terms. Don’t mess with us.” that call from God that you – In November 2020, he blamed those that are bound up in COVID-19 and the ensuing homosexuality – that the evangelist anointing will come coronavirus pandemic on upon their lives because that’s people that supported Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign for what they are!” he declared. President. Bullock describes the “gift” as being kept in a tomb. “We say to the evangelist inside the homosexual, ‘Come forth, come out of that tomb, and come forth in Jesus’ name.’” Bullock is an avowed supporter of former President Donald Trump and has gone as far as to say that current President Joe Biden “doesn’t exist.” He has also claimed that he and his fellow “prophets” have the power to call Trump back into the presidency whenever they wish. He even encouraged his churchgoers to publicly refer to him as President. “I know they will say, ‘Really?
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Gay Couple That Adopted A Baby They Found In The Subway Tells Their Heartwarming Story By Drew Williams
On August 28, 2000, 32-yearold Danny Stewart was going back home to his partner, Pete Mercurio, in Manhattan when he saw a baby in the subway who had been abandoned. All three of their lives changed forever when the men adopted the baby, who is now 20-yearsold and studying mathematics and computer science at college. “I did not know that this level of deep love existed in the world until my son came into my life,” Mercurio, now 52, told the BBC about the family he and Stewart formed with young Kevin. Stewart made headlines at the time after he spotted what he thought was a doll in the subway in Chelsea. After looking closer, he saw a baby wrapped up in a sweater, without any parents around. “He didn’t have any clothes on, he was just wrapped up in this sweatshirt,” he said. “His umbilical cord was still partially intact, so I could tell he was a newborn. I was thinking maybe a day or so old.” No one in the subway would help him look for the child’s 08 www.cityxtramagazine.com
parents and the police didn’t take him seriously when he called. But his partner did. “Because Danny doesn’t joke, he wouldn’t say something if it wasn’t true,” he said, explaining that he rushed over to the subway to help take the baby to the hospital. They left the baby there and police officers came to take their statement. “I remember turning to Danny and saying to him on the sidewalk as the police car was driving away, ‘You know, you’re going to be connected to that baby in some way for the rest of your life,'” Mercurio said. The baby’s story made the local news as social services searched for his parents. But they weren’t found by December, when Stewart was called to testify in court about finding the baby. At the time, the city was testing a short-lived expedited adoption process for abandoned children, and the judge was involved in it. As she was presiding over the hearing on the baby, she decided to just ask Stewart if he wanted to adopt. “Mr. Stewart, I want to let you know what’s happening here, in
instances where we have a baby that has been abandoned, we want to place them in pre-adoptive foster care as quickly as possible,” he said the judge told him. “Would you be interested in adopting this baby?'” “Yes, but I don’t think it’s that easy,” he responded. “Well, it can be,” the judge said. Stewart was elated, but Mercurio was not on board when he found out after the court proceeding. He said that they weren’t ready to have a kid – their apartment was small and they had a roommate – and was angry that he wasn’t consulted in the decision. Their relationship was on the line as Stewart wanted to proceed with the adoption and Mercurio was ready to leave. Until, they said, they visited the baby in foster care. Mercurio said that he held the baby and felt an “instant wave of warmth.” “The baby squeezed my finger with his entire hand so hard,” he said. “He was just staring up at me and I was just looking at him, and it was almost like he found a pressure point in my finger that just opened up my
heart to my head and showed me in that moment that I could be one of his parents, one of his dads.” They were offered the chance to take the baby home for Christmas just days before the holiday. They rushed to create a nursery in their apartment. After that, they went through the parenting classes, background checks, and home inspections for the adoption process. A year later, they adopted Kevin. Ten years later, the men would get married by the same judge who helped them adopt Kevin when marriage equality was legalized in New York. “This woman, the very reason we’re a family, is once again, the very reason we’re getting married. It was like coming full circle,” said Stewart. “I can’t imagine my life if it didn’t turn out this way,” Stewart said. “My life has become much more enriched and full. It has changed my world view, my perspective, my whole lens.” Mercurio has a book on his family’s story called Our Subway Baby.
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4 Pro Tips For How To Be The Best Trans Ally Possible By Jean Caviness
My friend Kate is a freaking badass. She escaped near murder in Honduras, traveled through Central America in “the caravan,” nearly drowned in a river crossing the border, was held in a freezing detention center, and is now surviving and thriving in Washington D.C. Kate has a job to support herself, she’s studying for an international business degree, she’s earned an educational training certificate in Human Rights, and she’s learning to model at school. Kate carries herself with a massive smile, reflecting her overflowing joy and faith in the future. When I asked Kate where she finds hope and positivity, she said, “If I let myself fall down, I won’t achieve what I’ve always wanted, which is to be respected for who I am.” In honor of Kate and all trans* people in the world, here are four ways for cisgender individuals to be the best trans allies possible: KNOW YOURSELF Have the ability to define 10 www.cityxtramagazine.com
“cisgender”. We often focus on gender identity and expression as though they’re traits unique to the trans* community, but in fact, all human beings — including straight, cisgender people — have a gender identity and expression too. The first thing cisgender people can do is understand the definitions of “cisgender” and “transgender” by watching this two minute explainer. Consider how you yourself fall within, or not, the spectrums of gender and sexual orientation. Remember that coming out as trans* is very different than coming out as lesbian, gay, bi+ or any other sexual orientation, but 77% of trans* people identify as something other than straight too. People of all orientations have gender expressions that are perceived in different ways. When I was using “lesbian” as my label, people were surprised because I didn’t appear gay. What they meant was I’m very femme presenting and didn’t fall into the stereotype of a lesbian, which had nothing to do with my
attraction towards women. Now that I identify as bisexual apparently my gender presentation makes so much more sense to others, go figure. Sex ≠ Gender. The first misunderstanding is when we get hung up on our junk, but genitals do not predict your sexual orientation or your gender. People have been assuming, incorrectly, that our sex, i.e. what’s between our legs when we’re born, tells parents that they have a baby boy or girl. But that’s not true for everyone, which makes “gender reveal” parties utterly ridiculous. By all means, have a fun “pregnancy party”, but why we need to say what the baby’s genitals look like is way TMI. Don’t ask people about their privates. Going back to my friend Kate from Honduras, she is a transgender woman and I am a cisgender woman. We are both immigrants, we both have siblings, we are both ambitious, we both take risks, and we are both women. We were just born with different genitals between our legs, and that’s very personal so neither of us should have to explain what’s in our pants, thank you very much. Use your privilege. When our gender meets society’s expectations, we experience an easier time in the world. Those of us who easily conform have an opportunity to speak up for those whose gender does not neatly fall into one of society’s silly boxes.
CONSIDER OTHERS
Even though our Learn about the spectrum of circumstances are different, we can identities. Generally, all empathize with people have a label for their gender, including “agender” for other people’s the feeling of having no gender, emotions and and these labels help express show kindness and courage in who we know ourselves to be. But how someone appears our actions. on the outside is not BE KIND necessarily how they feel on Politely ask for the inside. Nor is it reflective of someone’s the body they were born with, pronouns, and not their which quite frankly – as I said “preferred” pronouns. This above – is none of our freaking isn’t like asking for someone’s business. wine preference, but if you’re But what we can do is listen. wondering I’ll take red, please! So many brave people are An easy dialogue is to share sharing their stories in multiple yours first. For example, “My ways online, on podcasts, in name’s Fiona, my pronouns books, etc. We can learn from are she, her. May I know your hearing other people’s life pronouns too, please?” Put experiences and oftentimes your pronouns on video calls, they help us navigate our own. email signatures, and introduce Be mindful that you don’t know yourself with your pronouns what you don’t know, but regardless of who’s attending there’s always the opportunity the meeting. We can never to learn through active assume someone’s identity by listening. the way they look. If someone questions why it’s important Be empathetic. When I was you can send them here. working on the film TransMilitary, which documents Practice patience with all the lives of active duty people in your life. Being transgender service members patient with a person who is advocating to end the ban on questioning or exploring their their service, I didn’t know what gender identity is extremely it felt like to be transgender, but important, however, as no I did know intimately how it human being is born with a feels to be seen as someone manual and it can take a while you’re not. To varying degrees, to figure ourselves out. Like cis practically all people — includ- people, trans* people’s paths to ing straight, cisgender people know and express themselves — understand feelings of are unique and personal. anxiety, depression, fear, There’s no “right” or “wrong” powerlessness, and being oth- way to transition, but there are ered. We can also relate to definitely right ways to be being respected, powerful, supportive like affirming worthy, loved, and included. someone’s experience. Period.
Use gender-inclusive language, always. Once you realize how we’re perpetuating sexist language it’s hard to un-hear it. We’ve also been using gender neutral language our entire lives too… for example, I have a plumber coming to my house today, but I don’t know what time they’ll be here. There are tons of listicles on the internet giving words to use instead of “Hey guys!” as a greeting. “Hey y’all!” is my favorite, which pleases cis and trans* non-male identifying people alike. BE COURAGEOUS Speak up. Seriously, silence is complicit. Being a badass trans* ally is rooted in using your voice in whichever form suits you best to not only call out violence and discrimination, but to help educate those who don’t understand and are fearful of difference. Whether it be sharing films, books, or viral TikToks with loved ones, having a heavy offline conversation, or backing someone up in public, being an upstander is critical for trans* equality. The rights of a minority were never won www.cityxtramagazine.com 11
without the support of the majority. When you mess up, say you’re sorry and move on. I say “when,” because even the best-intentioned of us mess up, but don’t rub salt into the wound by making your slip up the focus of the conversation. The trans* person you’re talking with doesn’t need an explanation of how hard you’re trying, or how difficult it is for you to use their name. They just need you to keep doing your best since practice makes perfect. Create a platform and recognize when to take a seat. Not all trans* people want to explain or educate about their lives and bodies to the world. But some trans* people do. Finding a balance between being a vocal advocate, but not taking a stage when a trans* person should be up there is a call back to our own self-awareness. Form genuine friendships with a variety of people in your life and live with a mindset of abundance rather than lack. When you see an opportunity for a trans* person to have a job they love or be seen and heard on a platform they admire, make introductions and step out of the way. Trans* people have existed since humanity existed. Now is the time to decolonize our worldview of gender and sexuality, and lift one another up for our collective greater good. I see you, I hear you, and I celebrate you.
Drag Race’s Rock M. Sakura Reveals Sex Work Past In Wake Of Atlanta Killings By David Vandygriff
Rock M. Sakura, a contestant on season 12 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, has taken to Twitter to talk about being a former sex worker. Sakura, who is based in San Francisco, came 12th in last year’s show (eventually won by Jaida Essence Hall). Sakura’s distinctive look is partly inspired by her love of anime and J-pop
many other right now.
“I want to preface this with, I’m not sure how this will be taken, if people will support me or not, if people will leave the fanbase, or send me hate messages, unsubscribe or whatever. “Because I don’t think those things matter right now. With the violent crimes that have Sakura, who is Asianbeen affecting the Asian American, said she wanted to community as of recently and stop carrying around what had the hate crimes that were become a heavy secret. She committed last night I wanted was also moved to speak out to come out and say that I was following the mass shooting in a sex worker, specifically Atlanta on Tuesday which working with massage until my resulted in the death of eight debut on season 12. people. “Why is it important that I come The shootings took place at out and say this to everyone? three Atlanta massage spas Every day I have felt the and most of the victims were emotional weight of keeping Asian-American women who this secret from the community, worked at the businesses. and my fanbase, because of Police quickly arrested a 21fear of being blacklisted from year-old white man, Robert things like TV appearances and Aaron Long, for the slaying. All Stars, slut-shamed publicly, Long has admitted his guilt. or losing job opportunities in “I have to get something off of different countries (I was never threatened or told I was). my chest,” Sakura began in a lengthy Twitter thread. “I remember feeling shame “Something that has been during DR when asked did for a weighing very heavy on me for living, and I had to lie and say I a long time now, but I feel was a full-time queen because needs to be said for me and for I didn’t want to get kicked off (I didn’t know if I would, I was just
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scared). “The truth is, my job paid for my expenses while I lived in SF, and helped me pursue and fund my drag, even on drag race. “But right now people need to see, need to hear, and need to know that we need to #stopasianhate , and protect sex workers. What happened last night was exactly what it looks like. A hate crime against Asian people.” She continued, “I want everyone to have perspective, that could easily have been me, it could easily have been people you care about and love. “I have felt safety in the LGBT community, while I was working. I have felt strong and supported. Please, I urge you, if you are a fan of me, of of drag, and LGBTQIA+ person or ally, please help protect our community right now. Please keep Asian people safe. She continued, “I have often distanced myself from talking about matters involving myself sexually, tried to distance myself from thirst baiting, and avoided talking about my sex
life, because to me, Sakura is not Bryan. Sakura is my vessel for expressing my love of all things cute and kawaii, fun and wild. But I think it’s important right now to use her platform to help you realize how much this means to me. “How scared I am right now. After this tweet, I hope you will all respect me enough to understand that I will talk about this further if I want to. But, also know I don’t regret doing sex work and I don’t feel shame now that I’ve come out publicly and said it. “Thank you all for reading. This tweet has left me very vulnerable. I really don’t know how it will go. If I’ll get canceled, if I lose my supporters. I know I didn’t have
to make this tweet. But, I wanted to be brave. “Please know I love you all, and it has been so wonderful being with you all. I hope that you can all support me, I really do. Please support the families of victims, in anyway you can. I’m going to log off social media for a while because this post has been giving me anxiety all day.” “I’ll be okay, and I’ll be safe. Please take care, and remember to love yourselves.” She added as a clarification: “This is a PS after reading everything: I was never threatened to be blacklisted or anything from anywhere. EVER. The stigma of sex work, made ME believe that would be a consequence.”
Sakura’s tweets have receiving an overwhelmingly supportive response. “Thank you for your bravery, sis!”, said fellow Drag Race queen and San Francisco resident Honey Mahogany. “Sex work is work! Nothing to be ashamed of, and you’re in good company. Plenty of girls have done porn, and half our sisters have an OnlyFans now. AND GOOD FOR THEM!” “Thank you for sharing your story,” said another queen, Pandora Boxx. “There should be no shame in sex work. We need to correct this narrative in society. I stand by you and support you. We must all stand together at stop these hate crimes. #StopAsianHateCrimes”
Doctors Told Not To Test For STI That Affects Many Gay Men To Prevent A Super “Bug” By Rachel Simmons
Researchers are recommending against routine testing for an STI that affects many men who have sex with men (MSM), worrying that it’ll develop resistance to treatments and become even more infectious. “It is very difficult to treat this bug,” said lead researcher Jason Ong of Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. Ong and other researchers published their findings in a new paper in EClinicalMedicine, which says that routine screening of the disease won’t eliminate it and could make it stronger. Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) is a bacterial infection that was first isolated in the 1980s and it affects people of all genders. While it’s common – the researchers’ model estimates that 9.1% of people have it – it usually has no symptoms and people often don’t know they have it. Usually, it’s treated with antibiotics, but many common antibiotics won’t work on it because they destroy bacteria’s cell walls and MG doesn’t have cell walls. And MG is getting resistant to the antibiotics that work against 16 www.cityxtramagazine.com
it. Thirty years ago, only 10 to 20 percent of men who have sex with men who had MG at the Melbourne Sexual Health Clinic had an antibiotic-resistant strain. Now 80-90% of MG patients do and have to go through multiple rounds of antibiotics. According to the researchers’ model, the infection’s prevalence of 9.1% would go to 6.4% if doctors were recommended to test gay and bi men for it routinely like they do with HIV or other STIs. That’s why Ong recommends that doctors avoid testing for it unless a patient has symptoms, like a discharge from the urethra or pain while urinating. That way gay and bi men with asymptomatic cases won’t get treated with antibiotics. Routine testing “might reduce the prevalence a little bit and control the burden of disease in the community, but actually, it makes things worse because the end product of a lot of screenings is we will build a lot of resistance,” Ong told Guardian Australia. “We are not just seeing this in our modeling work, but in real life.” “We’ve got antibiotics out there
and they are really useful but it’s a finite resource because once a bug becomes resistant then we’ve basically lost that antibiotic, so we have to use our antibiotics very wisely,” he said. “It is very difficult to treat this bug,” he said. Gay and bi men are at a higher risk of getting MG, but that risk can be reduced by using condoms.
Kate Winslet Knows Four Queer Actors Who Refuse To Come Out By Michael Joshlin
In a new interview, Kate Winslet reveals that she knows four closeted actors, all of whom refuse to come out for fear of damaging their careers. “I cannot tell you the number of young actors I know — some well known, some starting out — who are terrified their sexuality will be revealed and that it will stand in the way of their being cast in straight roles,” the actress told The Sunday Times. “Now that’s f-cked up.” “I can think of at least four actors absolutely hiding their sexuality,” Winslet added. “It’s painful because they fear being found out. And that’s what they say, ‘I don’t want to be found out.'” The actress went on to say that she knows a “well-known” actor who recently changed agents. His new agent pressured him to stay in the closet rather than
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come out as bisexual. Winslet also speculates that men face a much higher hurdle when it comes to coming out, as Hollywood clings to the attitude that queer men can’t play straight characters. “That should be almost illegal,” Winslet insisted. “You would not believe how widespread it is. And it can’t just be distilled to the question about gay actors playing gay parts. Because actors, in some cases, are choosing not to come out for personal reasons. And it’s nobody’s business.” “I don’t intend to browbeat or take on Hollywood,” Winslet said. “We’re just talking about young actors who might be considering joining this profession and finding a way to make it more open. For there
to be less judgment, discrimination, and homophobia.” Winslet’s remarks come at a sensitive time for LGBTQ actors in Hollywood. While some creators–notably Russell T. Davies, creator of It’s a Sin–have become more vocal in the need for Hollywood to only cast queer actors as queer characters, others including Neil Patrick Harris, Stanley Tucci, Viggo Mortensen and even Kate Winslet herself have criticized that attitude, insisting that sexuality should not play a role in qualifying an actor for a part. Winslet herself recently played a lesbian in the drama Ammonite. In the same interview, she also revealed she was the only actress considered for the part.
Croatia In The First Third Of Best Countries For LGBTQ+ Safety LGBTQ Travel Safety in Croatia: 39th In a Most Popular Country in the World comprehensive By Donatella Paukovic overview, researchers When it comes to traveling, listed 150 countries from worst Croatia has been known as a to best regarding travel safety gay-friendly destination, even for LGBTQ members. The though not all Croatians in criteria according to which they every part of the country are made a list consists of ten fond of accepting gay and critical factors: lesbian couples. In a recent • Legalized same-sex study, LGBTQ travel safety in marriages Croatia ranks 39th on the list of • Worker protections 150 world's most popular • Discrimination protections countries for LGBTQ+ travel. • Criminalization of violence The research has been conducted by Asher and Lyric • Adoption recognitions • Quality of life Fergusson, an • Transgender legal identity Australian-American married laws couple, who write and do the research studies on topics that • Illegal same-sex relationships help travelers to travel safely. They have now taken an • Morality laws in-depth look at LGBTQ+ According to the data collected rights, country by country, by these criteria, the reviewed individual laws and researchers gave Croatia an gathered data from various index of 188 points and a grade trusted international sources to C+ from most safe to highest create the definitive "LGBTQ+ dangerous places (A to F), Travel Safety Index" that placing it among the first third shows safest, as well as least of the best countries in the safe countries for LGBTQ+ world in terms of LGBTQ+ travel. safety. After more than 250 hours of In Croatia, the same sexresearch, they made a list of relationships are legal since 150 most (and least) popular 1977. However, same-sex countries, where Croatia took marriage or families are not 39th place. We reviewed the permitted, but same-sex life information brought out about partnership is (i.e., civil union). Croatia and added some useful The Life Partnership Act came information about LGBTQ+ into force back in 2014, and communities in Croatia. since then, hundreds of life 20 www.cityxtramagazine.com
partnerships have been concluded, with male life partnerships being slightly more common than female. Also, it is legal to change gender without sex reassignment surgery. Violence against the members of the LGBTQ community is considered a hate crime in Croatia. Although this study says only sexual orientation is protected in Croatia, the truth is, both sexual orientation and gender identity are protected by numerous Croatian laws. The protections against discrimination are broad, although not constitutional. Croatian Constitution still does not include same-sex families, defining marriage only as "a life -long community of woman and man." However, one year ago, the Constitutional Court gave the right to same-sex couples in Croatia to be foster parents. Before, only single gay people could adopt children. The top ten safest countries for LGBTQ+ travel are Canada, the Netherlands, Sweden, Malta, Portugal, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Spain, Norway, and France. At the very end of the list, being the world's least safe countries for LGBTQ+ travel are Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Malawi, Oman, Jamaica, Myanmar, Qatar, UAE, and Yemen. Interestingly, the study shows that less than 25 percent of people said Croatia was a good place to live, according to Gallup's poll question's votes. These statements are arguable
since one can experience life and circumstances in Croatia only by visiting it personally. Nonetheless, many places in Croatia have been gay-friendly for a long time, especially tourist destinations. LGBTQ-Friendly Destinations In Croatia Among Croatia's popular tourist destinations, Dubrovnik is considered the most LGBTQtolerant, while its neighboring island of Lokrum welcomes gays on nudist beaches. Of other popular Croatian coastal destinations, Split, Rovinj, Krk, Rab, Rijeka, and Hvar also welcome members of the LGBTQ community. Rab island has also become the first declared gay-friendly destination in Croatia. Naturally, any larger town in Croatia that depends on tourism is accommodating, and gay and lesbian couples won't face discrimination. Some even go that far as to say that Croatia is one of the most tolerant countries in Europe for LGBTQ+ travelers. Meanwhile, people in smaller towns in rural parts of Croatia, due to their high traditional and religious values, tend to be very judgemental. Last year, Croatia saw 66 new same-sex life partnerships, increasing for as many as 47 life partnerships than in 2019. Most of them were registered in Zagreb and Primorje-Gorski Kotar and Istria counties. The first gay marriage was even held in Slavonia, in Kutjevo, where such marriages are still not very well accepted among
citizens, which gained a lot of interest there.
some other supporting celebrations occasionally happened in Rijeka and Pula Bigger cities such as Zagreb as well. Also, Croatia's find same-sex marriages and numerous music festivals and LGBTQ communities carnivals always welcome acceptable, as proven by the LGBTQ music lovers. Zagreb Pride celebration of many years standing, even in Although not all Croatians are pandemic-marked 2020. Still, a tolerant, nor does Croatia have recent horrific hate crime all legal protections for gay or perpetrated in Zagreb's lesbian persons, it seems like Maksimir Park against a gay times are slowly changing for man, when two attackers threw the better in creating a safe a Molotov cocktail on him and and tolerant environment for caused him second-degree LGBTQ+ people. burns. Zagreb Pride association later condemned the attack, calling it the "worst anti-gay hate crime ever reported in Croatia." They and such associations, most of which are located in Zagreb, are trying to improve the position of LGBTQ people in the community, i.e., in Croatia. Pride celebrations have also been organized in Croatian cities of Split and Osijek, while www.cityxtramagazine.com 21
The Florida bills are part of a nationally orchestrated campaign that has led to 25+ FL Legislature Risks Losing NCAA Events By states introducing Fast Tracking Trans Sports Bans By Equality Florida legislation despite the Bills that are drawing universal lack of problems with existing criticism for seeking to ban guidelines. But concerns about transgender kids from playing the sweeping nature of the bills sports in school may cause and the potential economic Florida to forfeit major sporting blowback backlash have led events. the bills to falter in other states. South Carolina defeated the The discriminatory legislation measure earlier this month and has been denounced by child Republican Governors in Utah welfare groups, bipartisan and South Dakota rejected coalitions of lawmakers similar bills. nationwide, sports superstars Megan Rapinoe and Dwayne South Dakota Governor Kristi Wade, and is even opposed by Noem sent her state’s bill back the researcher bill sponsors to the legislature for cite to try and justify the amendments, tweeting, legislation. Now, sports “Competing on the national organizations are weighing in stage means compliance with too. The NCAA, which the national governing bodies regulates collegiate student that oversee collegiate athletics, has called the athletics...While I certainly do anti-trans bills “damaging to not always agree with the transgender athletes” and actions these sanctioning warned that legislation that bodies take, I understand that violates the sporting agency’s collegiate athletics requires long-existing and inclusive such a system – a fifty-state sporting participation patchwork is not workable.” guidelines may jeopardize that The legislature rejected her state’s ability to host NCAA edits Monday, ultimately events. This after Idaho’s earning Noem’s veto. passage of similar legislation The NCAA has taken action in prompted 545 student athletes the past to defend LGBTQ to petition the organization to rights, most notably leading a pull championship events from boycott of North Carolina in states that ban transgender response to their anti-trans athletes. That state’s legislation “bathroom bill” in 2016 that has been blocked by a federal resulted in nearly $4billion in judge, citing its “likely” lost revenue. The Florida unconstitutionality. legislature risks plunging the state into a similar situation by 22 www.cityxtramagazine.com
needlessly placing trans kids in their political crosshairs. Over the next 5 years, the state is scheduled to host 50 championships, amounting to a $75million+ boon to the economy. The sports agency has said they continue to “closely monitor state bills that impact transgender student athlete participation”, words that should be a harrowing reminder of what’s at stake. “Simply put: lawmakers in Florida are putting the state’s economy at risk right alongside the health and wellbeing of transgender kids in a move that puts political pandering ahead of the welfare of children,” said Nadine Smith, Executive Director of Equality Florida. “Bills that fly in the face of inclusion and empowerment for all young people are bound to draw the ire of organizations committed to encouraging equitable participation -organizations like the NCAA. Their boycott of championships in North Carolina following the disastrous ‘bathroom bill’ torched the state’s economy and marred its reputation. The trans sports bans moving through the Florida legislature now are senselessly tempting a similar fate. Lawmakers would do well to heed the warnings from North Carolina and stop this legislation in its tracks.”
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Get A Free Krispy Kreme Doughnut Every Day This Year For Showing Your COVID-19 Vaccination Card By Jeffery Clemens
As the U.S. continues to scale COVID-19 vaccinations, Krispy Kreme is offering sweet support to those who are protecting themselves and others by getting vaccinated: FREE doughnuts. Brand also supporting team members with up to four hours of PTO to get vaccinated Starting today, guests who show a valid COVID-19 vaccination card at any Krispy Kreme shop in the U.S. can receive a free iconic Original Glazed doughnut - anytime, any day, even every day - through the remainder of 2021. Krispy Kreme also will support health care workers and volunteers who are helping administer vaccines, delivering free doughnuts to select vaccination centers throughout the country in the coming weeks.
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For its team members, Krispy Kreme is offering up to four hours of paid time off each to help encourage and enable their COVID-19 vaccinations, furthering the safety of team members and guests. “We all want to get COVID-19 behind us as fast as possible and we want to support everyone doing their part to make the country safe by getting vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is available to them,” said Dave Skena, Krispy Kreme Chief Marketing Officer. Krispy Kreme also will continue to encourage everyone to share joy and take care of each other by launching “Be Sweet Weekends,” offering guests who purchase any dozen an additional “Be Sweet Dozen” to safely share with a friend or neighbor for just $1. The Original Glazed dozen with a
special smiley-face doughnut will be available for nine consecutive SaturdaySundays, March 27 through May 23. Lastly, Krispy Kreme will help Americans get their week off to a good start in these tough times with one free medium coffee and a free Original Glazed doughnut, no purchase necessary, every Monday, March 29 through May 24. Show how you’re sharing joy with Krispy Kreme throughout the spring by using #KrispyKreme and tagging krispykreme. Learn more about how Krispy Kreme is showing sweet support to everyone doing their part to combat COVID-19 and Be Sweet Weekends by visiting www.krispykreme.com/ promos/sweetsupport.
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Pete Buttigieg Had To Go On TV To Tell Ignorant Republicans “You Need Water To Live” By David Vandygriff
Out Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg was on ABC’s This Week yesterday to explain to Republicans that people need water to live, specifically calling out South Dakota’s anti-LGBTQ governor for saying that water pipes aren’t infrastructure.
(R) claimed last week that pipes and housing are not infrastructure, a word that the Merriam Webster Dictionary defines as a country’s “system of public works.” “Well, we believe that pipes are The former mayor of South infrastructure, because you Bend, Indiana went on the air need water to live, and too to promote President Joe many families now live with the Biden’s $2 trillion infrastructure threat of lead poisoning,” investment package that he Buttigieg said. said would create “the Gov. Noem has been making strongest, most resilient, national headlines a lot lately innovative economy in the for her reactionary views. Last world” and millions of “goodweek she signed two executive paying jobs.” orders banning transgender Host George Stephanopoulos girls and women from school said that around 5% of the bill sports after she said she was goes to roads, a Republican the victim of “conservative talking point to make it seem cancel culture” for not banning like the bill has nothing to do them fast enough, even though with infrastructure. it’s already very difficult for trans students to play sports in “So why not focus on that traditional core infrastructure?” the state. Stephanopoulos asked, She also attacked hip hop star referring to roads. Lil Nas X’s “Satan shoes” last “There’s a lot more than roads week, saying they’re a threat to children’s “God-given eternal and bridges that are part of soul.” infrastructure,” Buttigieg explained. He brought up how Noem then made headlines for South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem attacking Biden’s infrastructure bill, saying she was “shocked
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by how much doesn’t go into infrastructure.” “It goes into research and development, it goes into housing and pipes and different initiatives, green energy, and it’s not really an honest conversation that we’re having about what this proposal is,” she said. Back on This Week, Stephanopoulos brought up that Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) is opposed to how the bill will be partly funded with an increase in taxes on multinational corporations. With Republicans likely to oppose all of the Biden administration’s initiatives, every Democrat’s support is necessary to pass anything in the Senate. Buttigieg said that corporations “have not been paying their fair share” of taxes so it makes sense to increase taxes on a corporation. “A lot of multinational corporations have been paying zero [taxes] on billions of dollars in profits,” he said. “That’s wrong.”
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