A council in Sydney overturned the ban on same-sex parenting books, an advocacy group in Kenya offers safety tips for hookup apps, and activists in Argentina blame the government following an arson attack on four gay women.
Council Reverses Ban On Same-Sex Parenting Books
A ban on same-sex parenting books has been overturned, two weeks after its passing in Western Sydney.
On May 1, the Cumberland City Council narrowly voted to get rid of same-sex parenting books from the city’s public libraries. According to The Guardian, the motivation to reverse this ban arose from the threat of losing library funding from the NSW government and widespread backlash.
Former mayor, Steve Christou, put the original motion forward, saying parents were “distraught” to see “A Focus On: Same-Sex Parents” by Holly Duhig displayed on a shelf in the children’s section of the library.
During the reversal meeting, crowds of protestors gathered, yelling and holding signs reading, “Leave the kids alone” and “Bigotry is not welcome here.”
Advocacy Group in Kenya Offers Safety Tips For Hookup Apps
Photo via Pexels.
Upinde Advocates for Inclusion hosted a three-day training for the LGBTQ community to learn about safe social media and dating app hook-up practices as the cases of blackmail, physical, and sexual assault stemming from online hook-ups rise in Africa.
“LBQ women and GNC persons confront major challenges in terms of digital security and data protection, freedom of expression, assembly, association, speech, privacy, protest and online organizing,” Upinde Advocates for Inclusion stated.
According to the Washington Blade, the training urged users to ensure the first in-person meeting with someone they met online is in a public place that is queer-friendly and known to them.
Another tip was to inform trusted friends or family about the meeting plans and location.
Activists in Argentina Blame Govt Following Arson Attack
Javier Mileivia. Photo by Quirinale.it, via Wikimedia Commons.
Four gay women were set on fire in Argentina in what protesters are calling a hate crime. Three of the women died, while the fourth is recovering from serious injuries.
According to The Guardian, a man in his 60s allegedly threw burning rags into the women’s shared bedroom of a boarding house in Buenos Aires. Neighbors say the suspect, Justo Fernando Barrientos, fought with the women in an attempt to stop them escaping the flames, before fleeing to the roof where he attempted suicide, and was later arrested.
Activists are blaming Javier Milei’s government regime for promoting hate speech and creating a culture of intolerance that led to this attack. During a protest, one demonstrator held a sign reading “they killed them” in reference to Milei.
Since taking office, Milei’s administration closed the National Institute Against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism and banned the use of gender-inclusive language within the military.
Manuel Adorni, the presidential spokesperson, is also facing backlash for saying that while the attack was “terrible” he would not “define it as an attack against a certain group.”
The suspect has not been charged, and it’s unclear whether prosecutors will include hate crime charges.
