A sampling from Facebook’s Pride pack
BY CANDY PARKER
Lesbian.com
What did you miss this week in the world of LGBT news? Check out our Lesbian.com round-up and you’ll be ready to gather ’round the rainbow-colored water cooler to talk about five of the biggest, best and most interesting stories for June 1-7.
Hill hurls homophobic slur; redeems with heartfelt apology
Jonah Hill found himself in some hot water last weekend when he chose to lash out at a paparazzo with a homophobic slur. But on Tuesday, the actor redeemed himself to many during an appearance on Jimmy Fallon’s “Tonight Show” with what appeared to be a sincere apology. Hill has been a long-time advocate for LGBT rights and seemed genuinely contrite as he addressed Fallon’s audience. “The word I chose was grotesque and no one deserves to say or hear words like that,” said Hill.
You can watch Hill’s apology below.
Chicago Sun-Times decides Laverne Cox is a woman after all
The Chicago Sun-Times drew harsh criticism for an op-ed piece which it ran last weekend titled “Laverne Cox is Not a Woman.” The piece, authored by the National Review’s Kevin D. Williamson and prompted by Cox’s recent Time magazine cover, argued that Cox was still a man whether she chose to label herself as one or not.
By Tuesday, the Chicago Sun-Times had realized the error of its ways (or had at least grown fearful of the resulting firestorm), pulled the story and issued an apology.
North Dakota last state to enter marriage equality fray
North Dakota no longer stands alone as the only state without a challenge to its constitutional ban on same sex marriage. On Friday, seven couples filed a lawsuit in the U.S. district court in Fargo, calling for an end to North Dakota’s constitutional ban and its refusal to accept gay marriages from out of state. With the filing, all 31 states which continue to have laws on the books defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman now face legal challenges at the federal level.
Military color guard makes history at D.C. Pride
History was made Saturday night in Washington, D.C., as an eight-member color guard team from U.S. Army Military District of Washington led off the 39th annual Capital Gay Pride parade. The group was the first Armed Forces color guard in American history to march in a gay pride parade.
Facebook releases LGBT emojis
Facebook kicked off LGBT Pride season by announcing the release of a 28-emoticon “Pride pack” available for Facebook Messenger users.
A Facebook diversity spokesperson told NewNowNext, ““We’re celebrating Pride by adding these free Facebook Messenger stickers to the Sticker Store. We see this as one more way we can make Facebook a place where people can express their authentic identity. Happy Pride!”
