A New Hampshire House candidate has been opposing LGBTQ rights for years, a restaurant in New York becomes a welcoming hub for LGBTQ people, and a soccer team in Massachusetts apologizes for running a controversial ad.
House Candidate has Opposed LGBTQ Rights for Years
Russell Prescott, a New Hampshire Republican congressional candidate, has spent years advocating against LGBTQ rights, according to The Hill.
Prescott, who is challenging Rep. Chris Pappas for one of two House seats in the state, has fought against same-sex marriage rights and criticized a political opponent for believing “avowed homosexuals” should be permitted to become adoptive or foster parents.
Prescott said he would vote to repeal same-sex marriage rights in the state during a 2012 reelection campaign.
“I believe marriage is between a man and a woman, and if that bill comes before me, that is the way that I will vote because that is part of my belief system,” he said.
Restaurant Becomes Welcoming Hub for LGBTQ Community
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A family-owned Mexican restaurant in Harlem has become known for its inclusive environment that welcomes the LGBTQ community.
According to NBC News, Café Ollín co-owner Jonathan Perez, whose parents opened the restaurant, said he wanted the restaurant to cater to both queer and Latino communities.
Events that have attracted the LGBTQ community to the restaurant include queer singles’ nights, painting activities and drag shows. The restaurant also holds a reputation for having an inclusive social media presence.
“I’m a queer business owner, and it was always really important for me to, like, showcase that through my social media,” Perez said.
Soccer Team Apologizes for Controversial Ad
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Boston's new National Women's Soccer League team apologized to the LGBTQ community for a promotional campaign that surrounded the idea that the city had “too many balls,” according to CBS News.
The video highlights Boston as one with many trophies, rings and balls. A narrator then goes on to read, "Boston loves its balls, but maybe there are too many balls in this town.”
Women’s soccer fans attacked the ad on social media, stating it was harmful toward the trans community. One journalist wrote, "At a time when trans women are being excluded from sport at every level, is ‘too many balls’ really the tagline you want to go with here?"
The video continued: “We are BOS Nation, where anything is possible. No balls necessary.”
Katya Engalichev, a fan who started a petition to change the name of the team and slogan, criticized the marketing decision.
"The insinuation that the only difference between men's and women's sports is the amount of balls that one can find, I found degrading," Engalichev said.
The league posted an apology online, stating, "We fully acknowledge that the content of the campaign did not reflect the safe and welcoming environment we strive to create for all.”
