A queer credit union
Marriage isn't the only kind of union we need.
In the saga of ThinkProgress closing, there was a little drama yesterday, but we responded to it, and it’s been resolved.
But one thing you might be curious to know is that ClimateProgress, which has long been a subset of ThinkProgress, is going to continue delivering the crucial climate news you need. My former colleague, the brilliant Emily Atkin, details that plan in the latest issue of her new newsletter, HEATED, which you should totally subscribe to so you receive important climate news along with the LGBTQ news you receive here.
Speaking of which, let’s get to it!
![items.[0].image.alt](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6f53e26d-02f8-4592-a511-e0faaf1be947_1280x720.png "items.[0].image.alt")
The first-ever LGBTQ credit union
Usually when we talk about nondiscrimination protections, we talk about employment, housing, public accommodations, and education, but a very important fifth category is credit. (All five categories are included in the Equality Act, by the way.) If you can’t get a loan from the bank, it can significantly interfere with your ability to build your life.
Well, one innovative new solution can be found in Michigan, which approved the first-ever credit union specifically to serve the LGBTQ community. Called Superbia, the credit union will function virtually both to serve the needs of its LGBTQ members nationwide and then also dedicate its profits to serving LGBTQ-related causes. Online financial services are expected to be available early next year.
North Carolina candidate more bigoted than we thought
State senator Dan Bishop (R) wants to be the next member of Congress representing North Carolina, but it turns out that his ties to different forms of bigotry are worse than we thought. To be clear, he was already a pretty bad dude — having led the fight to discriminate against transgender people in North Carolina.
But a new report from Mother Jones uncovered that Bishop is connected to a far-right extremist by the name of Brian Talbert. Talbert is gay and runs “Deplorable Pride,” which claims to be a conservative LGBT group, but like most gay conservatives is anti-trans. You may remember hearing about him when he tried to enter a MAGA float into the Charlotte Pride parade, and when he was denied, he got a call of support from President Trump himself.
But Talbert also has a history of Islamophobia and he has defended the Proud Boys, which has been labeled a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. And he’s apparently been in regular contact with Bishop about how to support his campaign. Check out MoJo’s reporting for all the details. It’s just another reminder that one kind of intolerance is usually an indicator of other kinds.
Street harassment in NYC
Watch as Adam Eli, who is gay and Jewish, is verbally harassed on the streets of New York City by an individual who objected to his pink kippah, purse, and pride patch on his jeans. “Any man that lies with another man, it’s an abomination,” the man shouted at him. “You’ll be murdered for it! Take the kippah off!”
In follow-up tweets, Eli explained that he’s proud of his queer Jewish identity, but he also recognizes that the abuse he experienced is nothing compared to what trans and non-binary people endure.
How not to defend Drag Queen Story Hour
We know that drag queens reading books to kids is a great event that combines inclusivity with literacy, and we know that opposition to Drag Queen Story Hour is pretty dumb. But lashing out at opponents of the event doesn’t help anything.
Unfortunately, that’s what happened in California after pastors at South Bay Pentecostal Church in Chula Vista protested the event alongside other anti-LGBTQ groups. Vandals attacked the church this weekend, spray-painting a Pentagram and the words “Lucifer” and “Satan.”
Vandalism is not likely to change the minds of those who protested, and may even solidify their resolve.
A second country to ban conversion therapy?
While many states and cities in U.S. and elsewhere have banned anti-LGBTQ conversion therapy, only one country has banned the harmful practice: Malta. But France is now considering legislation that could make it the second. Debate begins this week on a bill that would punish the practice with two years in prison and a fine of $33,000. Germany, Ireland, Poland, and the UK are also working on bills.
Transitions in Tasmania
A new law took effect Friday that allows transgender people living in the Australian state of Tasmania to update their birth certificates to reflect their gender identity. The law is among the most progressive in Australia, not requiring medical procedures and also allowing parents to forego gender markers for their newborns.
A meeting of queer leaders — of countries
Sometimes you see something that just reminds you how far we’ve come and how quickly! There are people alive now who might never have imagined that a country’s head of state would be someone queer, let alone multiple countries. But this week, Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel is hosting a visit from Serbia Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, and seeing two queer heads of state with their partners is just pretty special:
How to deal with Aaron Schock
I really don’t want to write anything about Aaron Schock, the disgraced former Republican congressman who had a super anti-LGBTQ record but is now kind of coming out as gay more publicly — or at least letting himself be seen in queer spaces flirting (and more) with guys. But I wanted to share how drag queen Jonnie Reinhart responded when Schock came into a West Hollywood bar last week.
Reinhart first performed the Lily Allen song “Fuck You,” a tribute to opponents of equality. But then they engaged with Schock directly, and had what I thought was the best possible dialogue about how important it is for Schock to make amends for the harm that he did if he expects to be welcome in queer spaces. He is apparently working on a public statement — something we’ve been hearing for months now.
Take a few moments and listen to Reinhart describe the encounter, because I thought it was incredibly well handled.
The curious way a rapper handled a gay rumor
For a variety of complicated reasons (that weren’t related to stereotypes or innuendo), there were rumors that West Coast rapper YG might be gay. It’s now public knowledge that he’s dating R&B singer Khlani, who is queer, and he’ll be helping raise her child, but he’s not the bisexual father she had once alluded to.
So to address the rumors in the wake of their relationship becoming public, YG did something curious. In a pair of tweets, he simply explained, “I like what I like,” and then encouraged support for trans women of color.
Considering how often the rap community is painted as queerphobic, it’s impressive to see such a handling of the situation.
Can I get a “Warren” up in here??
This weekend was RuPaul’s DragCon, a fun event that takes place on both coasts and celebrates everything about the drag community. This year, the convention invited all of the presidential candidates to share a message, but only Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) took DragCon up on its offer. She had a full booth, and recorded a message for participants discussing her support for “full LGBTQ+ equality.”
With several of the candidates also reticent to participate in the LGBTQ townhalls, maybe it’s time to open the library. Reading is fundamental!
Until next time, stay platinum!