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Gay Cleaner Fired After Reporting Homophobic Abuse By Co-Workers – Star Observer

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Gay Cleaner Fired After Reporting Homophobic Abuse By Co-Workers – Star Observer

A 29-year cleaner from Queensland, who was working for Ipswich City Council, west of Brisbane, is taking his now former employers to the Fair Work Commission, having claimed unfair dismissal on the basis of his sexuality.

James ‘Jimi’ Fuller- a former nurse who is openly gay, began working for the city council in November 2020 on a casual basis, but says it didn’t take long before he was subjected to abuse from his colleagues, claiming on one instance that he was called a “dirty fag”.

What’s more concerning about these accusations, is that Fuller alleges that it was his boss who started the ongoing abuse, after telling fellow cleaning staff of his sexuality.

“My supervisor went to another staff member and said ‘Jimi is a different kind of character, he is gay’,” Fuller said in an interview with 7news.

“At first I was shocked. Then I asked them if they’d said it. They said ‘yes I did’.”

‘Let’s Get Jimi The Sack’

Ipswich City Council Administrative building.

Immediately, Fuller says, there were consequences, claiming fellow staff members then refused to even be in the same room as him, adding that “(They) refused to work with me because I’m gay.”

But the abuse didn’t stop there, as messages sent within the work group chat allegedly announced “Let’s get Jimi the sack”.

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After being on the receiving end of abuse for several months, and on the urging of a fellow work mate, Fuller in March raised the matter with the council’s People and Culture team, but as Fuller recalls, “Ever since I reported (the comments), literally since that day, my life has been hell.”

On March 23, Jimi received a letter saying “a thorough investigation has now been completed by the People and Culture Branch, and following careful consideration of the findings, I am satisfied that your claims of bullying are unsubstantiated.”

Retract Complaint Or Lose Job

Letter from the Ipswich City Council

Despite Fuller having lodged a formal complaint with HR, it only resulted in the Council then asking Fuller to retract his statement.

“I was given an ultimatum to retract that claim otherwise I would lose my job,” he said.

“They told me not to bother to apply for the full-time job (when it came up).”

Several days later on April 9, Fuller was let go from this job via a letter, which claimed his work was ‘substandard’. Fuller rejected these claims pointing to a considerable number of written references relating to his cleaning work.

“Thorough consideration has now been given to the concerns raised from the internal clients regarding the standard of cleaning you provided, and your responses provided to (name redacted).”

“James, I wish to advise you that after careful consideration by your management team and myself it has been determined that you are not suitable for the role of Casual Cleaner at Ipswich City Council. In reaching this decision Council has taken into account the training you have received, your length of service and your performance,” Fuller’s redundancy letter read.

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Ipswich City Council then claimed that it all came down to a fingerprint smudge on a glass door and a muddy footprint on the ground at an art gallery he had been cleaning hours earlier.

“That’s a general building where people are walking through all day long. You can’t fire someone over that” Fuller said.

Fair Work Commission Accepts Complaint

After Fuller challenged his termination, Ipswich Council doubled down harder on their claims, confirming via another letter sent to Fuller on the 15th of April that “after review and consideration of these matters, I can confirm that it is the view of council that the complaint you raised whilst employed was investigated thoroughly, and the termination of your casual employment was managed appropriately and in accordance with council practices for these matters.”

The Fair Work Commission accepted Fuller’s claim last week, and Ipswich Council now has until Wednesday to respond to the complaint, which may then progress to a tribunal.

When approached by the media for comment, a representative for Ipswich Council said that “while council always seeks to be transparent, this is an ongoing legal matter and it would not be appropriate for council to make comment at this stage.”

If you feel distressed reading the story, you can reach out to support services.

For 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention call Lifeline on 13 11 14

For Australia-wide LGBTQI peer support call QLife on 1800 184 527 or webchat.

NC House speaker: Transgender sports bill has been set aside – Associated Press

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NC House speaker: Transgender sports bill has been set aside – Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina General Assembly won’t advance legislation this year preventing transgender girls and women from competing in school sports labeled for biologically female athletes, a top legislative leader said.

“The House will not be taking up that bill,” House Speaker Tim Moore told The Associated Press in an interview. “We’ve spoken with the bill sponsors and others and simply believe that there’s not a need to take it up at this time.”

The inaction marks another decision by state Republicans to step away for now from controversial LGBT legislation rather than face criticism that GOP leaders in other states have experienced. Those actions, however, have failed to generate broader backlash.

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Senate leader Phil Berger’s office said last week that there would be no votes on a bill that sought to limit medical treatments for transgender people under 21 and punish doctors who facilitate that treatment, adding that there was no pathway for it to become law.

The House is setting aside the “Save Women’s Sports Act,” which was pushed by social conservatives and other groups who said young women were in danger of losing spots on high school and colleges teams and sports titles to athletes who were born male, creating inherent unfairness. LGBT-rights groups strongly opposed the legislation. Parents and children told a judiciary committee hearing this month that the prohibition would harm transgender girls who want to fit in and would amount to discrimination. No similar bill was filed in the Senate this year.

Moore expressed skepticism that the sports bill would have had enough votes to be adopted into law. Vetoes by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, an LGBT rights supporter, are tough for Republicans to override because their majorities aren’t veto-proof.

Moore called the transgender sports bill a solution in search of a problem that hasn’t yet surfaced in North Carolina as in other states. Since 2019, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association has received less than 10 requests from teenagers who identify as a different gender than on their birth certificate and seek to participate in formal athletics.

“We’re not really hearing any complaints about that where it’s an issue,” Moore told the AP late Wednesday.

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Moore moved the transgender sports bill from the Judiciary Committee to the Rules Committee, where measures that the majority party doesn’t want to take up often get sent to die. That action happened Monday, the same day Apple Inc. announced the construction of its first East Coast campus in the Raleigh-Durham area and the creation of at least 3,000 jobs over the next decade.

Berger and Moore told reporters at a Monday news conference celebrating the Apple expansion that the company demanded no actions on legislation. Cooper did say that Apple CEO Tim Cook told him the repeal of North Carolina’s 2016 transgender bathroom bill was “important in their decision making,” as was the recent end of a moratorium on local government nondiscrimination ordinances.

Moore told the AP that parking the transgender sports bill had no connection to the Apple announcement. Rather, he said, the decision was the result of discussions within the House Republican Caucus.

Rep. Mark Brody, a Union County Republican and chief sponsor of the legislation, said Wednesday that he feels pretty confident the measure got derailed because “Apple’s come to town” but lacked hard evidence. Brody said the measure would have gone all the way to Cooper’s desk if House leadership had given the green light to vote on it, but a veto would have occurred.

“I’m disappointed that it isn’t moving,” Brody said, adding that the conflict will resurface when a transgender girl wins a state championship in a sport designated for women. “I think the issues are not going to go away.”

This date in sports history: April 29 | TribLIVE.com – TribLIVE

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This date in sports history: April 29 | TribLIVE.com – TribLIVE

1901 — His Eminence, ridden by Jimmy Winkfield, wins the Kentucky Derby by 1 1/2 lengths over Sannazarro in the only Derby ever raced in April.

1961 — ABC’s “Wide World of Sports,” debuts.

1970 — Los Angeles Lakers guard Jerry West hits a 60-foot desperation shot at the buzzer to tie Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks. The Knicks outscore the Lakers, 9-6, in the overtime for a 111-108 win.

1985 — Tony Tubbs captures the WBA heavyweight title with a unanimous 15-round decision over Greg Page in Buffalo, N.Y.

1986 — Roger Clemens set a major league record by striking out 20 as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Seattle Mariners, 3-1.

1988 — The Baltimore Orioles end their 21-game losing streak by winning their first game of the season, 9-0 over the Chicago White Sox.

1990 — Pat Riley becomes the winningest coach in NBA playoff history as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Houston Rockets, 104-100. Riley’s 100th victory put him ahead of Red Auerbach.

1998 — For the first time in the 124-year history of the Kentucky Derby, a redraw is ordered during the post-position draw. Churchill Downs officials allowed ESPN to control the announcing of the draw. Commentator Chris Lincoln called the No. 15 pill twice while picking the draft order for post positions.

2000 — Lennox Lewis knocks down Michael Grant three times in the first round and knocks him out at 2 minutes, 53 seconds of the second at Madison Square Garden in New York to retain his WBC and IBF heavyweight titles. The combined weight of 497 pounds made it the heaviest title fight ever.

2003 — Indiana outscores Boston, 5-0, in overtime for a 93-88 victory, cutting the Celtics’ first-round series lead to 3-2. It’s the first overtime shutout in NBA playoff history.

2007 — Phoenix guard Steve Nash has 23 assists, one shy of the NBA playoff record, to help Phoenix to a 113-100 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

2010 — The NCAA’s Board of Directors approve a 68-team format for the men’s basketball tournament beginning next season. It’s the first expansion since 2001 when the tourney went from 64 to 65 teams.

2013 — NBA veteran center Jason Collins becomes the first male professional athlete in the major four American sports leagues to come out as gay. Collins writes a first-person account posted on Sports Illustrated’s website. The 34-year-old free agent played for six NBA teams in 12 seasons.

2014 — Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling is banned for life by the NBA in response to racist comments he made in an audio recording. The Clippers’ owner is also fined $2.5 million, the maximum amount allowed under the NBA Constitution.

County DKG chapter holds April meeting with new members being inducted – Carolinacoastonline

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County DKG chapter holds April meeting with new members being inducted – Carolinacoastonline

MOREHEAD CITY — The Carteret County Gamma Zeta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International met April 8 at The History Museum of Carteret County.

The program, featuring three special ceremonies, began with a Celebration of Life for Amelia Garner Luther who impacted countless children’s lives during her 35 years of teaching in several schools throughout North Carolina.  

Amelia was the backbone of her family, a devout Christian dedicated to her church and a source of light to all who knew her.  Amelia’s son, Michael Ray Luther Jr., and wife, Toni, accepted a framed copy of “Crossing the Bar,” along with a white rose from her DKG sisters.

Jeffrie Holloway, June Vann, Lucy Bond and Bonnie Ferneau assisted in the ceremonial tribute to a sister who will live on in the hearts and minds of those fortunate enough to have known Amelia Luther.

The program continued with the induction of five new members:  Karen Bochnovic, Carteret Community College; Jenny Combs, Bridges School; Jill King, Bridges School; Dr. Tracy Mancini, president of Carteret Community College; and Tammy Schooley, East Carteret High School.  They were accompanied to the stage area by Thorn, Dr. Cathy Tomon, Gay Lea, Ferneau and Bond, respectively.

All new members were recognized as respected professionals in their communities willing to accept responsibility in the DKG organization. After pledging their loyalty and cooperation in fulfilling the society’s purpose, inductees signed the initiates’ book and were presented with a red rose.  The induction ceremony was concluded with those present singing the Delta Kappa Gamma Anthem.

Holloway, Ferneau, Jasa Ellis and Dr. Tomon helped with the ceremony. Barbara Hill and Martha Edwards assisted with the music.

The last part of the program, the Quinquennial Membership Ceremony, recognized those who had reached another 5-year milestone of membership in DKG.  Thorn and Ferneau presented a certificate and 20-year DKG pin to Bond and a certificate and 35-year pin to Gail Barnes.  Thorn presented a certificate and 50-year pin to Ferneau, the first member in the Carteret County chapter to receive the Golden Award.  Luther Jr. and Thorn generously donated the pins for the special recognitions.

During the short business meeting, Ferneau, chapter president, acknowledged Holloway’s hard work as membership committee chair and encouraged all members to serve on at least one committee as an avenue for personal involvement in DKG.  She also thanked Thorn for her award-winning work for the Gamma Zeta chapter.  Artworks from both Thorn and Debra Stinson have been selected by the International Fine Arts Gallery.

Dr. Tomon, the chapter first vice president, praised the 20 first- and second-year teachers participating in the Buzzing Bee Beginning Education Excelling Project.  

With no one in the class of 2021 applying for a teaching scholarship, members voted to award scholarship funds, $500 each to three deserving teacher assistants pursuing full teaching degrees:  Jessica O’Neal, Kimberly Michelle Ehrler and Erin Stuart.

Thorn, past chapter president, reminded the sisters that Amelia Luther will be mentioned at the state convention. Award nominees include: Barbara Hill, Founders Award; Alice Copes, Golden Key Award; Martha Edwards, Rising Star Award; and Kaitlyn Brewer, Beginning Teacher Award.

The next DKG meeting will be June 18 at 1 p.m. An executive board meeting is planned the same day at 11 a.m.  Members are invited to go on a Black History Bus Tour with Rev. Curtis Oden as a summer activity.  

The meeting ended with June Merrill passing the “Grow” gloves to Holloway in recognition of her warm, welcoming spirit, hard work as membership chair and attention to detail.  Holloway will pass the gloves to another DKG member at the June meeting.

To see about qualifications to join DKG, call Ferneau at 252-247-7435 or email  bonnievista@aol.com, or call Holloway at 252-240-3235 or email  ann.holloway8401@icloud.com.

‘It was weird’: Scenes from Biden’s speech – POLITICO

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‘It was weird’: Scenes from Biden’s speech – POLITICO

But in other ways, Biden’s first speech to Congress represented a return to political monotony to the dozens of senior lawmakers sitting before him after four years of Donald Trump. The carefully scripted speech — laden with policy jargon and subtle overtures to key party factions — is a stark departure from Trump’s hyperbolic assertions and made-for-TV surprises, such as last year’s mid-speech military spouse reunion or the accolades for late radio host Rush Limbaugh.

Instead, the most-viral moment from Biden’s speech may have been a snoozing Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) caught on the C-SPAN camera.

“It was weird,” explained Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) afterward. She said it was difficult to understand Biden during the speech. “He was very soft spoken I think through a lot of it too. Very low energy. It was a disjointed laundry list of wishes.”

Biden nodded to the odd setting, the empty seats and the masks throughout the House chamber.

“While the setting tonight is familiar, this gathering is just a little bit different. A reminder of the extraordinary times we are in,” Biden said while addressing the chamber, where even senior senators sat tucked away in the corners of the upper gallery, three seats apart.

“It was very odd to be in the House chamber. Even as a House member I never sat in the gallery,” said Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.). “But it was so normal to hear somebody give the joint address … who was trying to lead the country and not stick their finger in the other side’s eye.”

Lawmakers, almost all of whom were vaccinated, couldn’t resist fist bumps and hand shakes as they gathered together in a bicameral fashion for the first time since approving the election results on Jan. 6.

Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) sought out political ally Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for a handshake and a quick word as McConnell strolled into the House chamber. She also dapped up Biden as he made his way into the chamber. And Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) bro-hugged Biden as Biden walked to the lectern.

Still, the coronavirus remained one of the biggest procedural obstacles for Capitol officials as they planned the speech. Every member who sat inside had faced strict rules to enter — either proof of a Covid vaccination or a test within 48 hours. Even lawmakers that have ditched their masks inside in recent days, like Cruz or Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), had theirs fastened as they headed into the House chamber.

Even in a year when cross-aisle relationships have decayed since the Jan. 6 insurrection, Biden’s speech saw none of the political vitriol that accompanied Trump’s most recent speech to Congress. Trump delivered that address one day before the Senate acquitted him of several charges by House Democrats, and relations were so frosty between him and Speaker Nancy Pelosi that Trump refused to shake her hand. The speaker ripped up her copy of the president’s speech on camera immediately after he finished.

Biden’s policy-heavy speech was largely designed as a sales pitch for his ambitious infrastructure and social program proposals — including a nearly $4 trillion spending plan that was unveiled earlier Wednesday.

But it was also a long-overdue celebration for Democrats as they welcomed Biden for his first major in-person Hill event since becoming president, after more than a year of Zoom campaigning. It was also a chance to revel in the party’s success after passing a $2 trillion pandemic recovery bill last month, without a single GOP vote. Biden repeatedly touted the bill in his speech

“This may be the first joint address that covered vaccinations, but I’m very glad it did. And it made me feel very good,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).

The Republican disinterest, or in some cases, disdain, for Biden’s agenda was clear on the floor Wednesday. GOP lawmakers sat mostly stone-faced as the president laid out his plans for a behemoth spending plan, which would reverse some of their own tax cuts to pay for it. There were some exceptions, of course, including ending cancer — a line that drew bipartisan applause.

“I’m trying to think of what Republicans clapped for. Buy America, a few other things,” said Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.). But when Biden said “don’t bet against America,’ I think even Kevin McCarthy was standing.”

There was little enthusiasm among Republicans as Biden called for bipartisan action on issues from police brutality to gun control to LGBT rights to protecting Dreamers. Overall, it was once again an opportunity for Republicans to question Biden’s commitment to bipartisanship.

“He’s said it before: You’ve got to judge people not by their words but by their actions. So we’ll find out soon enough whether he’s sincere,” said Senate Minority Whip John Thune.

Biden’s challenges were also clear on his own side. His calls for a $15-an-hour minimum wage, for instance, drew loud applause on the floor, though the policy lacks support from eight Democratic Caucus members of the Senate. Democrats also stood and cheered loudly as Biden called for allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices — though his administration has privately drawn complaints after leaving it out of his proposal earlier Wednesday.

Still, some things stayed the same. Democratic Rep. Rosa DeLauro — a long-time friend of Biden’s — was among the first to pull him aside after the speech for a chat. House Majority Steny Hoyer spent several minutes chatting up fellow appropriator, Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) before the speech. A group of House Democrats who call themselves the “Pink ladies” were seen taking selfies.

“There were 200 people in the chamber, and there are usually 1400, to give you an idea what a contrast it was,” said Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). “There was energy, but there were not a lot of players in the room.”

Another scoring drought sinks the Spurs in loss to the Heat – Pounding The Rock

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Another scoring drought sinks the Spurs in loss to the Heat – Pounding The Rock

The San Antonio Spurs likely came into the night riding a whirlwind of emotions. There was the high of Monday’s thrilling OT victory over the surging Washington Wizards, but also the low of losing Derrick White likely for the season to a sprained ankle, putting a big dent in the chemistry the starters have been creating during their recent bounce back from a brutal post All-Star break stretch. Not only that, but timing couldn’t be much worse as they are now facing perhaps the most daunting stretch of schedule strength-wise, beginning with the Miami Heat.

The disruption of chemistry was on display early. With Devin Vassell moving to the starting line-up in the place of White, it was obvious the starting unit would need some time to get to know each other again. That issue was only compounded with Jakob Poeltl once again facing early foul trouble. It was a bad first quarter on both ends with the Spurs looking out of sorts and not sure what to do with the ball. They quickly found themselves down double-digits, and despite some substitutions to find a spark, it didn’t initially come has the lane remained wide open for the Heat, while the Good Guys couldn’t even buy a lay-up. They entered the second quarter down 31-20.

However, the bench finally showed up, starting the second quarter with back-to-back threes from Patty Mills and Lonnie Walker plus a bucket from Rudy Gay, kicking off a 19-7 run for their first lead of the game. Even though they ended up down 55-54 at the half thanks to a lucky banked three for Goran Dragic at the buzzer, it was still inspiring to see them respond after looking like they had nothing in the tank in the first quarter. Walker alone had 12 of his 18 points in the quarter to break out of his recent scoring slump.

Later in the third quarter, the starters seemed to be coming together and pulled off a 12-2 run to get their largest lead of the game at 74-67, including 7 confidence-boosting points from Devin Vassell after he started 0-4 from field. Unfortunately, in a reverse front the first half, the bench unit was the abysmal one in the third quarter. The defense instantly broke back down as Gregg Popovich started making substitutions, and anything resembling ball movement on offense stopped.

Almost the instant Poeltl was subbed out, the Heat started using former Spur Dewayne Dedmon to attack Drew Eubanks down low, and it worked. Pop eventually replaced him with Gorgui Dieng, but to not much better results. The Spurs went scoreless over the final four minutes of the third quarter while the Heat went on a 15-0 run to take an 82-74 lead heading into the fourth. These scoring droughts have been a common occurrence in most of the Spurs’ recent losses.

Dedmon would hit another shot to extend their run to 17-0 before consecutive threes by Gay and Walker broke the drought, forcing a Heat timeout. The Heat then did what they had done (and would continue to do) for the rest of the game: respond. Despite the Spurs finding their shooting touch again in the quarter, they couldn’t get any stops, and for a while the Heat managed to keep the lead between a relatively comfortable 6-10 points.

It initially felt like the Spurs would never string together enough stops to make a final push. When they went into a zone, the Heat had the shooters to work around it; when they played man-to-man, they couldn’t keep the Heat off the boards or avoid fouling. But, to their credit, the Spurs kept fighting. After getting down by 10 again with just over four minutes left, the Spurs went on a 7-0 run to make it a one-possession game with under two minutes left, but once again they couldn’t avoid the fouls and stop the offensive rebounds to truly threaten to force overtime, and they ended up losing 111-116.

Like several of the Spurs’ losses this season, this one wasn’t unexpected, especially with the loss of White, but it’s the way they got there — via an extended scoring drought and too many mistakes — that hurts. Fortunately for them, Portland laid one on Memphis tonight to keeping the two Southwest Division rivals tied at the 8th/9th seeds. A win would have been great to get the Spurs out ahead since Memphis owns the tie-breaker, but all they can do is regroup and take the remining games one at a time.

Game Notes

  • For me, it’s a toss-up between the sleeved desert camos and the metallic silver uniforms as the ugliest in the Spurs history, but I’m not sure they hold a candle to these cotton candy uniforms the Heat were wearing. Not only are they an eyesore, but at the right angle and turned the correct way, they blended into the paint area. (Technically they’re inspired by Miami Vice, but I still just see cotton candy.)
  • Despite missing his first four shots, Vassell showed his maturity in just the second start of his career and after inconsistent playing time of late. He was one of few Spurs who was almost never caught out of position on defense, and he kept taking the shots that were handed to him despite the early struggles. He ended up making four of his final six shots for 11 points. He’s not expected to completely replace White’s production, but he seems more than up for the job of trying.
  • Pop called a mad timeout three minutes into the second quarter to yell at the refs after Bam Adebayo got away with both an offensive foul and travel all in one possession. His “lecture” initially appeared to work, as a couple of possessions later Bam was called for the same chicken wing on Dejounte Murray. (And honestly, he should have been called for a moving screen seconds before.) It almost worked again on the next possession when he was called for his third foul by charging into Poeltl, but Eric Spoelstra had it successfully overturned, instead giving Poeltl his third foul and sending him to the bench. Adebayo got away with at least one more chicken wing and travel later in the quarter, as well was a possible offensive basket interference, much to Pop’s dismay.
  • Dedmon was really took it to his old ream tonight, scoring a season-high 18 points. (In fact, he and former Spurs draftee Dragic combined for all 36 of the bench points for the Heat.) Eubanks has been on a tear lately, but this game still showed what bigger centers with a good touch around the rim can do to him. Not many teams have that type of backup center, but the Heat is one of them.
  • The Coach’s Challenge just isn’t Pop’s forte. With the Spurs trying to make a final run, he did not use it when they were down three with 1:29 left, and Dragic clearly shoved Murray into a Butler screen, but Murray was called for the foul. With the Heat in the bonus, Butler hit the free throws to make it a two-possession game once again. Pop finally used his challenge with the Spurs down three again, and Poeltl interfered with Butler’s landing space with 22 seconds left, giving him the game-icing free throws. While it was clear that challenge would be unsuccessful, and Pop was just using it because he had it, it would have been nice to see him use it on a call he actually could have won and played a roll in the eventual loss.
  • How about ending on a high note? The fact that Murray somehow managed to have a triple-double consisting of 22 efficient points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, and yet it was both surprising since it came so quietly but not a shocker to see such a stat line from him anymore is a testament to how far his game has come. There’s also this:

Next up: @ Boston Celtics

The Spurs continue their mega-tough stretch of schedule in Boston against the Celtics on Friday, April 30 at 6:30 PM CT on BSSW. (If you’re wondering what makes it so tough, the next three games after that are at home against the 76ers before two consecutive games at the home the West’s leading team, the Utah Jazz. Yikes.)

Rudy Gay with an and one vs the Miami Heat – Yahoo Canada Sports

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Rudy Gay with an and one vs the Miami Heat – Yahoo Canada Sports

CBC

Aaron Brown confident Canadian relay teams will find way to Tokyo Olympics

The sample size was small, but Aaron Brown liked what he saw on the track from the new-look Canadian men’s 4×100-metre relay team. Brown anchored the squad to victory over four Louisiana State University runners in 38.49 seconds on Saturday in Baton Rouge as part of a Team Canada training camp ahead of this weekend’s World Athletics Relays in Chorzów, Poland. “To go 38.49 at this time of the season with people at different legs is encouraging,” Brown told CBC Sports, referring to teammates Bismark Boateng, Jerome Blake and EJ Floreal. The foursome, however, won’t compete for at least a month after Athletics Canada announced later Saturday it was withdrawing from World Relays because of coronavirus concerns in Poland. A COVID-19 exposure in Silesia could have devastating effects on Tokyo preparation — meaning self-isolation — regardless of whether an athlete tested positive or not, according to Athletics Canada high performance director Simon Nathan. Canada was scheduled to send 24 athletes to World Relays, most of whom have not been vaccinated. While Poland is showing signs of improvement, noted Nathan, it is reporting a high number of COVID-19 cases and travellers are strongly encouraged to avoid all non-essential travel in and out of the country. “We made this decision with our team’s health and safety at heart,” Nathan added. Brown, the two-time defending Canadian champion in the 100 and 200 metres, wasn’t “too concerned” about travelling to Poland when he left his wife Preeya and three-month-old son Kingsley at their Florida home to attend the training camp. “I knew this was something that could be potentially in the works once I arrived to the camp and watched it unfold, so my initial reaction wasn’t one of too much shock,” said Brown, who has received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine. Men missed 4×100 final at 2019 worlds “I felt like Canada had a solid plan in place to keep us safe at the World Relays. Of course, it would’ve been nice to know [Athletics Canada’s decision] before going to LSU, but I don’t think it would be fair to expect them to have known beforehand how everything would play out.” At the 2019 world championships, Gavin Smellie, Brendon Rodney, Andre De Grasse and Brown finished sixth in their heat in 37.91 and missed out on qualifying for the 4×100 final by 5-1000ths of a second in Doha, Qatar. WATCH | Canada fails to advance to 4×100 final at 2019 worlds: In the 2016 Olympic final in Rio, Akeem Haynes, Brown, De Grasse and Rodney ran 37.64 to beat the 37.69 Canadian record held by the gold-medal winning team anchored by Donovan Bailey at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. “I definitely saw room for improvement from our first run with [this year’s] team at LSU,” Brown said. “It’s hard to predict what would have happened in Poland because the relay is so volatile, but we would have definitely been competitive with this squad.” It’s a tight-knit group as Brown trains daily with Blake, has spoken frequently with De Grasse and talks regularly with Smellie and Boateng as the trio are in the same fantasy basketball league. Bolade Ajomale and Andre Azonwanna were the other sprinters listed on Canada’s 4×100 team for World Relays. Brown said he is hopeful the relay team can run at a meet early in the Diamond League season, which opens May 23 in Gateshead, England. 9th on Top List Athletics Canada head coach Glenroy Gilbert is confident races could be arranged to help athletes secure a spot in Tokyo via the World Athletics Top Lists, a ranking of the fastest times during the Olympic qualifying period. To qualify, relay teams must: Place top 8 at the 2019 world championships. Finish top 8 at 2021 World Relays. Be among the remaining team in the top 16 in the Top List. The Canadian men’s 4×100 team is ninth entering World Relays, based on its time from 2019 worlds. “I’m not concerned [about qualifying] given our time from [worlds] is strong,” Brown said. “I believe we will be able to do what’s necessary to qualify our teams for Tokyo.” ‘Risks outweigh rewards’ The lone Canadian entry assured a spot on the starting line in Japan is the women’s 4×400 team, which placed eighth at the 2019 World Athletics Championship in Qatar. The foursome of Alicia Brown, Aiyanna-Brigitte Stiverne, Maddy Price and Sage Watson crossed the line fifth at worlds in 3:25.91 before being disqualified for a lane infringement and dropped to eighth after an official review by the International Association of Athletics Federations (now World Athletics). Sage Watson, right, was to anchor the women’s 4×400 team at World Relays. “The main focus for teams, athletes and Team Canada is to get ready for Tokyo,” she says of the Olympics in July.(Ahmed Jadallah/Reuters/File) “I fully support Athletics Canada’s decision to drop out of the World Relays. It was a very tough decision that took time and consideration to make,” Watson told CBC Sports. “It would have been great to compete again with Team Canada … but the risks outweigh the rewards. It seems to be a common decision as the U.S., Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Australia teams [also withdrew]. “The main focus for teams, athletes and Team Canada is to get ready for Tokyo,” added Watson, a member of the 4×400 team that placed fourth at the 2016 Olympics in Rio. Over 100 teams from 30-plus countries The U.S. led the way at the most recent World Relays in 2019, winning five of the nine events in Yokohama, Japan. Besides the men’s and women’s 4×100 and 4×400 races, the 4×200, mixed 4×400 and mixed shuttle hurdles relay will be contested in Poland. Over 100 teams from more than 30 countries are scheduled to compete at Silesian Stadium, with three-time world indoor champion Pavel Maslak, European indoor 400 gold medallist Femke Bol and Africa’s Akani Simbine, who has run under 10 seconds in the 100 several times this year, among the notables. The Nigerian men’s 4×100 team could raise eyebrows, led by Blessing Okabgare, who won the 100 at the USATF Grand Prix last weekend in Eugene, Ore. Teammate Divine Oduduru was the 2019 NCAA outdoor 100 champion. WATCH | Does Christian Coleman’s absence affect men’s 100m hype ahead of Tokyo?:

Coming Out – The Harvard-Westlake Chronicle – The Harvard-Westlake Chronicle

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Coming Out – The Harvard-Westlake Chronicle – The Harvard-Westlake Chronicle

The media impacts many youth in the LGBTQ community. Students reflect on the role the media plays in coming out.

When Jamie Kim-Worthington ’22 checked Instagram and saw all of the support and positivity that actor Elliot Page received after coming out as transgender, he said he felt very reassured. The response he observed from his community inspired him to come out himself.  The act of “coming out” can be a very significant moment in the life of an LGBT  individual, and the way that moment is represented in the media or by celebrities is often very impactful to those watching at home.

Celebrities have a postive impact on youth in the LGBTQ+ community.

“For me, celebrities coming out is great,” Kim-Worthington said. “I think [that] has been really helpful for LGBT kids. For people with unsupportive families, having a celebrity figure to look up to can be lifesaving.”

Natalie Ayeni ’21 agreedand said celebrities being open about their identities helps both members of the LGBT community and those who want to understand and support them.

“I think that celebrities coming out has had a very positive impact on LGBT youth,” Ayeni said. “Not only do we have role models to look up to, but those around us can get a better understanding of our experiences.”

Students question the significance of coming out.

While coming out is certainly a significant experience, some LGBT people question why they still have to do it at all. Casey Weisman ’22 said he believes that coming out is  pointless and makes an unnecessary distinction between LGBT and straight people.

“It just makes us seem unequal from everyone else and the process is so uncomfortable,” Weisman said. “Queer people don’t owe their identity to anyone. Lately, I’ve seen a lot of people talking about how they’re never going come out and they’re just going live their life in a normal way, and I love that because it’s exactly what straight people get to do.”

Lavinia Tyagi ’23 said she thinks that while the concept of coming out can be flawed, it still provides an opportunity for LGBT people to connect to their peers and allies.

“I think the concept of coming out is three dimensional, because for some people it may present itself as a great way to talk about their sexuality with their family and friends,” Tyagi said. “For others, it could be thrust upon them by somebody else before they are ready. Moreover, some people don’t have the choice of coming out when they want to and are outed just by existing as they are.”

LGBTQ+ repersentation in the media has an impact on many. 

As the media becomes more progressive and begins to represent more diverse stories, many movies, shows, and books have started to tell “coming out stories” when including LGBT characters. Notable examples are Love, Simon, Schitt’s Creek, Will and Grace and Sex Education. According to Ayeni, these stories can sometimes be uplifting, but can also be anxiety-inducing or unrelatable.

“I’ve always struggled with stories like that because they almost made it harder for me to feel comfortable coming out,” Ayeni said. “The few portrayals I saw usually ended with rejection by friends and family, or other harsh consequences. It never felt genuine or relatable, and it made me feel more scared of coming out.”

Kim-Worthington agreed that the way coming out is represented in media is often flawed. He said he does not feel very connected to many of them, as they can be overdramatic. However, he said  they can be very valuable to others.

“I believe that coming out doesn’t have to be a big deal,” Kim-Worthington said. “I don’t really love coming out stories, as they can be dramatized and overemotional in my opinion. However, sexuality and gender are a big deal to some people. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to have an in-depth or emotional coming out.”

Tyagi added that coming out in media or online can often be played as a joke, which she said is insulting and belittles  the experiences of LGBT individuals.

“There is a frustratingly large amount of ‘pranks’ about coming out as a joke or for a shock factor that garners views, and in turn, money,” Tyagi said. ” [It] makes a mockery of the LGBT community and often leads to onlookers thinking that being LGBT is a choice.”

According to scholars.org, media saturation and press freedom have both been statistically associated with increased inclusivity  for LGBT+ people in younger generations. While young people have had more exposure to diversity in the media and in real life because of the  recent increase in diverse stories, the impact of seeing LGBT stories cannot be understated for older people, either. The article’s conclusion indicates that free media is essential for expanding gay and trans rights  and improving the public perception of the LGBT community.

 Kim-Worthington said  this perception can differ, however,  depending on the area. He believes that a more liberal city like Los Angeles can have a wildly different socio-political environment than another.

“I think coming out in our Los Angeles bubble is very different than how someone who lives in, say, rural Alabama might come out,” Kim-Worthington said. “I’m privileged enough to be able to come out with relative ease and no turmoil, so my thought process was initially that coming out isn’t that big of a deal. But in places where being gay or transgender is deadly, coming out can be incredibly important.”

Biden calls for passage of Equality Act in speech to Congress – Washington Blade

Kim Martel
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Biden calls for passage of Equality Act in speech to Congress – Washington Blade

Three transgender people allege they suffered abuse at a Miami jail last year after police arrested them during Black Lives Matter protests.

The Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund in a letter it sent to Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava on Wednesday notes Christian Pallidine, a college student who identifies as a trans man, was attending a Black Lives Matter protest in downtown Miami on May 31, 2020, when Miami-Dade police officers arrested him and charged him with violating a county-wide curfew.

Pallidine arrived at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center a short time later, and the letter notes personnel abused him because of his gender identity.

“The staff at TGK subjected Mr. Pallidine to degrading and outrageous treatment because he is transgender,” it reads. “TGK staff forced him to strip and display his genitals in front of a group of officers — part of a series of invasive, pseudo-medical, sexualized procedures conducted on him for no legitimate purpose. TGK staff also belittled Mr. Pallidine, publicized his transgender status to others, asked gratuitous questions about his anatomy, and called him derogatory names.”

The letter, among other things, notes Pallidine underwent an examination that “focused solely on his transgender status” and it “took place in a public area where others could easily see and hear him and the person questioning him.” The letter says the officer who conducted the exam asked him “multiple questions about his genitals and plans for future medical care, such as, ‘Do you want a penis in the future?’”

Pallidine alleges he was forced to take a pregnancy test “because of his genitals” and officers mocked him because of his gender identity. Pallidine also says officers forced him to undergo a strip search and placed him in solidary confinement before his release.

Jae Bucci and Gabriela Amaya Cruz on July 19, 2020, attended a rally and march for Black trans women in downtown Miami. Miami-Dade police officers brought them to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center after they arrested them.

Bucci, who is a teacher and makeup artist, on Wednesday during a virtual press conference that TLDEF, the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Harvard LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic organized, said the gender marker on her ID is female and the Miami-Dade Police Department processed her as such. Bucci noted Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center personnel also processed her as female, but she said an officer told her, “Aha, I knew it. That’s what I was looking for” after she disclosed her gender identity.

Bucci said her friends were not able to find her because officers had reclassified her as male. Bucci told reporters that officers placed her with male prisoners and, like Pallidine, forced her to undergo an “illegal strip search in front of several officers.”

“They tugged at my piercings, drawing blood, and forcibly tried to remove my hair, assuming it to be a wig,” said Bucci.

“They forced me to sit with men … I was put in danger,” she added. “I needed protection. I asked to be seated with other women, but the guards were only hyper-focused on my genitals, repeatedly calling me a man.”

Bucci said she was later placed in solitary confinement “for hours with no contact, food, water, leading to a panic attack where I began to self-harm and contemplate suicide.” Bucci said officers also forced her to wear men’s clothing “with my breasts clearly visible.”

Jae Bucci (Photo by Emely Virta)

Amaya Cruz — a barista, artist and activist — said she suffered many of the same abuses that Bucci and Pallidine described once she arrived at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

Amaya Cruz told reporters the officers did not know whether to place her with female or male inmates once she disclosed her gender identity to them.

She said officers forced her to remove her wig before they took her mugshot.

Amaya Cruz said she objected to male officers patting her down, and they told a female colleague that “he’s saying he’s a woman, but he’s a man. He has a dick still.”

Amaya Cruz said the female officer did her pat down and allowed her to fill out paperwork in which she disclosed her gender identity. Amaya Cruz said the officer allowed her to sit with other female inmates.

Amaya Cruz was born with ectrodactyly, a rare genetic disorder that limits finger movement, but she was subject to “excessive force” during the pat down and when guards took her fingerprints.

Amaya Cruz said the female officer who did her pat-down told her to change into a pair of basketball shorts and a white t-shirt before her release.

“I was so uncomfortable and I just complied because my only reaction was I don’t want to be here any longer,” said Amaya Cruz. “At that point I felt uncomfortable, humiliated, my gender was being yelled out the entire night. My gender identity was not being taken seriously in any way.”

Gabriela Amaya Cruz (Photo by Sonya Revell/Southern Poverty Law Center)

TLDEF Staff Attorney Alejandra Caraballo told reporters the “health and safety of our clients were jeopardized by the willful and wanton treatment by the officers at TGK.”

“The current policies followed at TGK are woefully inadequate and are discriminatory on their face, which will inevitably lead towards the targeted harassment of trans people in custody,” added Caraballo.

Harvard LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic Founding Director Alexander Chen also took part in the press conference alongside Arianna Lint, chief executive officer of Arianna’s Center, an organization that serves trans women in South Florida. Tatiana Williams, co-founder and executive director of Transinclusive Group, which also works with trans people in South Florida, also participated.

“The change has to happen, as we all mentioned, structurally,” said Williams. “It has to happen at the top.”

Two men hold their fists in their air during an anti-police brutality protest in downtown Miami on June 1, 2020. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

The letter to Levine Cava calls for her office to “reach a resolution” with Pallidine, Bucci and Amaya Cruz without litigation that specifically addresses several points:

1) “Policy and procedure updates to address the issues faced by our clients and other transgender community members.”

2) “Meaningful accountability measures for MDCR (Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department) staff that go well beyond what Internal Affairs currently provides.”

3) “Appropriate discipline for the MDCR staff involved in the inappropriate treatment of our clients.”

4) “Updates to county records concerning our clients and their gender.”

5) “Compensation to our clients as allowed by law; and reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs as allowed by law.”

“We have achieved similar results working with officials elsewhere in the country, and are confident we can do the same here,” reads the letter.

Chen echoed this point during the press conference.

“We have every expectation that we will be able to come to an accord with the county that will both do justice to our plaintiffs and protect transgender people in the county going forward,” he said.

Lint, like Chen, noted Levine Cava championed LGBTQ rights when she was a member of the Miami-Dade County Commission until she succeeded now-Congressman Carlos Giménez last November.

“I am calling on Mayor Levine Cava to continue this support for the transgender community by taking steps to address the mistreatment of transgender individuals in Miami-Dade County jails,” said Lint. “Arianna’s Center is committed to working with Mayor Levine Cava to eradicate prejudice against the transgender community in our prisons, jails, detention centers and through the whole criminal justice system.”

Levine Cava’s office has not returned the Washington Blade’s request for comment.

Spoelstra gets win No. 600, Heat top Spurs 116-111 – WDIV ClickOnDetroit

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Spoelstra gets win No. 600, Heat top Spurs 116-111 – WDIV ClickOnDetroit

MIAMI – Erik Spoelstra got a milestone win, and it didn’t come easily.

Jimmy Butler scored 29 points, Bam Adebayo scored 21 and the Miami Heat went on a 17-0 run in the second half before hanging on late to beat the San Antonio Spurs 116-111 on Wednesday night.

It was the 600th regular-season win for Spoelstra, making him the 27th coach in NBA history to win that many and just the sixth coach to do so with one franchise. He thanked Heat President Pat Riley and managing general partner Micky Arison for the opportunity.

“It is humbling,” Spoelstra said. “Obviously, I always think about Pat and Micky for having this incredible opportunity to be able to coach with this franchise. I feel a great responsibility to do it the right way for something they started and created.”

The Heat (33-30) remained No. 7 in the Eastern Conference, tied with No. 6 Boston (33-30) and now one game behind No. 5 Atlanta (34-29).

“I know if we win, that takes care of everything,” Butler said.

Adebayo added 11 rebounds for Miami, which got 18 points from three players — Kendrick Nunn, plus reserves Goran Dragic and Dewayne Dedmon. Dragic had seven assists, giving him 2,004 in his Miami career and tying him with two-time NBA champion Mario Chalmers for third-most in team history.

Dejounte Murray had 22 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists for the Spurs, who were without starting guard Derrick White, who is expected to miss the rest of the season with a sprained ankle. DeMar DeRozan scored 20 for the Spurs, who got 18 from Lonnie Walker IV, 14 from Keldon Johnson, 13 from Rudy Gay and 11 from Devin Vassell.

High school sports roundup for April 27, 2021 – My Edmonds News

Kim Martel
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High school sports roundup for April 27, 2021 – My Edmonds News

Boys Soccer

Edmonds-Woodway defeated Cascade 8-4

Edmonds-Woodway goal scorers:

– Ben Hanson 5 goals
– Sebastian Sanchez Ortega
– Edgar Cabrera
– Isaac Parreno

Edmonds-Woodway Assists:
– Sebastian Sanchez Ortega
– Eddy Olson
– Aaron Diaz 2 assists
– Logan Pocius

Cascade goal scorers:
– Kaden Somers
– Caleb Bonilla Stevenson
– Carter Gay
– Joseph Kpoto

Records: Edmonds-Woodway 2-0-1; Cascade 1-6

Edmonds-Woodway next game: vs Meadowdale; Friday April 30; 7:30 p.m. at Edmonds Stadium

Meadowdale defeated Marysville Getchell 7-1

Meadowdale goal scorers:
– River Stewart 4
– Theo Uherk-Hartman
– Cole Sargent

Records: Meadowdale 4-2-1; Marysville Getchell 1-6

Meadowdale next game: vs Edmonds-Woodway; Friday April 30; 7:30 p.m. at Edmonds Stadium

Archbishop Murphy defeated Mountlake Terrace 2-0

Goalkeeper Shutout: Sulli Hupp

Archbishop Murphy goal scorers
– Sean Balen 2 goals

Records: Archbishop Murphy 3-2-2; Mountlake Terrace 0-5

Mountlake Terrace next game: at Lynnwood; Friday April 30; 7:30 p.m.

Cedarcrest vs. Lynnwood

No details reported

Lynnwood next game: vs Mountlake Terrace; Friday April 30; 7:30 p.m. at Lynnwood High School

Girls Tennis

Edmonds-Woodway defeated Cascade 7-0

Singles:
Natalie Paulson (EW) defeated Rukia Yosif (C) 6-0, 6-1
Paige Oliver (EW) defeated Esther Martinez (C) 6-0, 6-0
Isis Liaw (EW) defeated Aumnia Alissa (C) 6-2, 6-3
Maia Ali (EW) defeated Olivia Long (C) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles:
Maggie McGinness/Kristina Tran (EW) defeated Ai-me Le/Somathra Sophan (C) 6-2, 7-5
Kyla Druxman/Amanda Ly (EW) defeated Danya Allsh/Sierra Poland (C) 7-5, 3-6, (10-8)
Natalie Colobong/Kaylee Meyers (EW) defeated Fatau Manneh/ Ryenn Stark (C) 6-4, 6-3

Edmonds-Woodway next match: vs Meadowdale; Friday April 30; 3:30 p.m. at Edmonds-Woodway High School

Meadowdale defeated Marysville Getchell 6-1

Singles:
Sidney Wright (MD) defeated Gabby Maddock (MG) 6-1, 6-0
Maya Nikolic (MD) defeated Kathy Ramirez (MG) 7-5, 6-2
Sabrina Reonal (MD) defeated Heather Warner (MG) 6-2, 6-2
Sarah Davis (MD) defeated Lizzie Wagertaff (MG) 6-2, 6-3

Doubles:
Brenna Dunston/Sydney Huestis (MG) defeated Catherine Ton/Hailey Neri (MD) 6-3, 7-6
Rachel Lee/Isabella Marossa (MD) defeated Emma Zeutennorsh/Kyndall Bayley (MG) 7-6, 6-3
McKenna Leith/Bella Tang (MD) defeated Emma Butler/Karla Garcia (MG) 6-2, 6-4

Meadowdale next match: vs Lynnwood; Wednesday April 28; 3:30 p.m. at Meadowdale High School

Mountlake Terrace vs. Archbishop Murphy

No details reported

Mountlake Terrace next match: at Lynnwood; Thursday April 29; 3:30 p.m.

Softball

Meadowdale defeated Lynnwood 11-5

Lynnwood Hitting:
Hailey Johnson solo home run
Nyree Johnson 2-run home run

Records: Mountlake Terrace 5-3; Lynnwood 2-6

Meadowdale next game: vs Mountlake Terrace; Thursday April 29; 4 p.m. at Meadowdale High School

Lynnwood next game: vs Shorecrest; Thursday April 29; 4 p.m. at Lynnwood High School

— Compiled by Steve Willits

Miami 116, San Antonio 111 | Sports | titusvilleherald.com – Titusville Herald

Kim Martel
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Miami 116, San Antonio 111 | Sports | titusvilleherald.com – Titusville Herald

FG FT Reb
SAN ANTONIO Min M-A M-A O-T A PF PTS
DeRozan 35:29 7-13 6-7 0-4 8 3 20
Johnson 27:32 5-8 4-5 0-6 0 1 14
Poeltl 28:41 3-5 0-0 2-7 2 4 6
Murray 36:23 8-17 5-5 3-10 11 3 22
Vassell 25:06 4-10 1-3 0-2 1 0 11
Walker IV 29:21 7-15 1-1 0-3 1 3 18
Gay 22:24 5-11 0-1 1-2 1 0 13
Mills 15:45 1-7 0-0 0-1 2 2 3
Eubanks 13:07 1-2 0-0 0-3 0 2 2
Dieng 6:12 0-0 2-2 1-2 0 2 2
Totals 240:00 41-88 19-24 7-40 26 20 111

Percentages: FG .466, FT .792.

3-Point Goals: 10-32, .313 (Walker IV 3-6, Gay 3-7, Vassell 2-6, Murray 1-4, Mills 1-6, DeRozan 0-1, Johnson 0-2).

Team Rebounds: 6. Team Turnovers: None.

Blocked Shots: 3 (Poeltl 2, Vassell).

Turnovers: 9 (Murray 3, DeRozan 2, Dieng, Gay, Mills, Poeltl).

Steals: 6 (Eubanks 2, Poeltl 2, DeRozan, Murray).

Technical Fouls: None.

FG FT Reb
MIAMI Min M-A M-A O-T A PF PTS
Ariza 25:19 1-7 1-2 1-6 3 2 4
Butler 39:13 11-23 7-7 2-8 6 1 29
Adebayo 32:05 7-11 7-8 4-11 2 4 21
Nunn 37:37 8-14 0-0 0-4 1 3 18
Robinson 32:13 3-8 0-0 0-5 2 5 8
Dragic 28:22 6-12 2-2 0-0 7 3 18
Iguodala 24:13 0-1 0-0 0-4 4 1 0
Dedmon 15:55 7-8 4-5 2-9 0 4 18
Vincent 5:03 0-1 0-0 1-1 1 0 0
Totals 240:00 43-85 21-24 10-48 26 23 116

Percentages: FG .506, FT .875.

3-Point Goals: 9-25, .360 (Dragic 4-7, Robinson 2-4, Nunn 2-6, Ariza 1-5, Butler 0-1, Iguodala 0-1, Vincent 0-1).

Team Rebounds: 3. Team Turnovers: 1.

Blocked Shots: 1 (Dedmon).

Turnovers: 12 (Nunn 3, Adebayo 2, Ariza 2, Dedmon 2, Iguodala 2, Butler).

Steals: 4 (Adebayo, Ariza, Butler, Dragic).

Technical Fouls: None.

San Antonio 20 34 20 37 — 111
Miami 31 24 27 34 — 116

A_0 (19,600). T_2:16.

Brazilian musician shines light on intersection of sexuality and Judaism – The Jerusalem Post

Kim Martel
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Brazilian musician shines light on intersection of sexuality and Judaism – The Jerusalem Post
Brazil is a diverse and complex country. For 32-year-old Assucena Assucena, who is trans and Jewish (of Moroccan and Sephardic descent), that complexity is intensified.
To be Jewish in Brazil already means that you’re one of an estimated 120,000 Jews living in a predominantly Catholic country with a deep history of antisemitism. But to be trans can be outright dangerous. Not only does Brazil have a loud and proud homophobic and far-right president — Jair Bolsonaro claimed “homosexual fundamentalists” were brainwashing heterosexual children to “become gays and lesbians to satisfy them sexually in the future” in a 2013 interview — but also, in 2020, more trans people were killed in Brazil than anywhere else in the world for the 12th consecutive year.
In addition to the anti-LGBTQ sentiments expressed by the president and his family (including his son), just last month one of his senior aides was accused of making a white supremacist hand symbol during a legislative session. All of this makes the visibility that people like Assucena represent even more important.
Assucena Assucena is one of the three musicians in the Brazilian musical group As Baías. She met her fellow band members Raquel Virgínia (also a trans woman) and Rafael Acerbi while studying history at the University of Sao Paulo. They have since risen within Brazil’s music scene: In 2019, the group’s album “Tarântula” was nominated for the Grammy Latino, making Assucena and Raquel the first trans women to have ever been nominated for the award. They were nominated again in 2020 for their album “Enquanto Estamos Distantes” (“While We Were Distant”).  
I spoke with Assucena over Zoom to talk about the way she’s using her platform to advocate for both the LGBTQ and Jewish communities in Brazil.
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
Alma: To start, tell us a little about the Jewish community in Brazil.

Assucena: Because of the history of antisemitism here, the community is very closed, very conservative and not always open to recognizing pluralism within the Jewish community. The community is diverse, but they often represent themselves as homogenous, even when they aren’t. Here’s an example: When you arrive at a Brazilian synagogue, it’s almost impossible to enter without being invited. You need to say your family name and present documents. They are extremely closed, ever since the 1994 Jewish culture center bombing in Argentina that killed 85 Jews, though I believe that security in synagogues is more about class than security.
From outside the community, I’ve suffered antisemitism, of course. The perception of Jewish people in Brazil is very cruel because we’re often portrayed as conservative and capitalist instead of as revolutionaries or even academics, which represent a huge part of the Jewish community. That’s a perpetuation of a Nazi concept. The idea of who a Jew is in Brazil needs to change — both for non-Jews and Jews.
What is it like to be both Jewish and LGBTQ?
It’s hard for a lot of people to understand that I can be both trans and Jewish. I grew up in a small city in Bahia, and when I first moved to Sao Paulo I didn’t have any issues accessing the Jewish community. When I became trans, access to Jewish life became a problem and I left the community for eight years. I didn’t see the possibility to be who I was in that environment.
It seems like you’ve found your way back, though. How did that happen?
While studying history, I discovered feminism, Marxism and other ideas in philosophy that made me think about the world in new ways. I was always a religious person and I always sought out spiritual connection. I was looking for a connection to God. I realized through all of this that I never left Judaism, especially the cultural aspect, which was always a part of who I am. Culture is how we think, how we eat and how we behave socially. I never truly left. Judaism is more about uncertainty than certainty. It is expressed through constant debate and questioning, and that’s what I was doing.
My Jewish identity grew even stronger during the recent political polarization in Brazil. It was presumed that Jews would support Bolsonaro, and many leftist Jews stood up and spoke out against him. This really showed pluralism because we as a community were publicly divided over this topic.
A lot of people see you as a public activist for LGBTQ and Jewish causes, especially the intersection of the two. What projects have you been working on?  
So much has happened in the past few years. I was invited to serve as a collaborator for the Instituto Brasil-Israel (IBI), and in 2019 I hosted the first institutional LGBTQ Shabbat in Brazil alongside Fortuna, another Jewish musician here in Brazil. Fortuna is very well-known, politically and religiously, in the Jewish community and helped reignite the use of Ladino in music in Brazil. We’ve recorded three singles together.
I also helped build several LGBTQ Jewish groups with IBI and Gaavah, one with CIP (Congregação Israelita Paulista) called MOV 20:35 LGBTQIA +, and another with the Israeli Federation of the State of São Paulo called Hineni, which brings LGBTQ Jews to the center of attention and helps to boost dialogue and integration. We are even offering trained, professional support to Jews who are struggling with their sexuality or gender identity.
I’ve been an outspoken critic on topics related to Israel and Palestine, oftentimes disagreeing with the left and right simultaneously. Last year I wrote a column for Vogue Brasil about why it’s necessary to question the false idea of ​​a Judeo-Christian West. I’m also working on writing my first novel and the main character will be a trans Jewish woman.
As for my activism, it’s all about emphasizing the ideas of a pluralistic Jew. I make a point to post pictures of my Shabbat table and candles on my Instagram stories. I also make a point in interviews to say that I’m Jewish, and that’s important because oftentimes in Brazil, people won’t mention on TV or in interviews that they’re Jewish. During the elections with Bolsonaro, it became even more important for people on the left to come out as Jewish to show that the image of the right-leaning Jewish person wasn’t true. Like me: I’m a trans, leftist Jew.
We’ve mentioned politics a few times here. How does As Baías address politics through your songs?
We sing about everything in As Baías. We talk about everything from love to pain to solitude. All of this, from the perspective of a trans woman, is political. A trans body is a political body. When we sing on TV, when we sing about Brazil, it’s always political. Because our rights aren’t guaranteed.
I know that the album “Tarântula” was specifically focused on LGBTQ rights. Can you tell me about that?
We called the album “Tarântula” in honor and remembrance of trans people killed by the military police operation of the same name in Sao Paulo in 1987. Tarântula was the first institutional program designed to persecute and kill LGBT people (with a large focus on trans people). The idea was that the program would serve as a way to  “clean up” Sao Paulo and rid the city of AIDS. We wanted to shed light on Tarântula and this period that killed and scared the LGBT population.
What is the Jewish LGBTQ scene in Brazil like today?
The community is undergoing a positive transformation right now and I think that has a lot to do with the country’s current polarization. People are seeing the need for conversations and openness around these topics. The community needs to see the mix of identities and beliefs that someone can have and still be Jewish. Maybe they’re LGBT, or a leftist, or even anti-Zionist, but they’re still Jewish. This kind of pluralism is healthy for the community. It’s when we realize and discuss our differences that we are able to truly understand and appreciate the intersections in everyone’s identities. This can make us stronger.

After gay man was targeted for rainbow house idea, dozens helped him paint the colorful stripes – The Seattle Times

News Editor
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After gay man was targeted for rainbow house idea, dozens helped him paint the colorful stripes – The Seattle Times

Mykey O’Halloran had finally saved enough money to buy a small beach house on Australia’s Phillip Island — and he’d settled on a color scheme he thought was perfect for it.

As a proud gay hairstylist whose Unicorn Manes salon specializes in rainbow-hued designs, O’Halloran has crafted hair to resemble tacos, cheeseburgers and fries. So he figured it made sense to give the beige, three-bedroom bungalow rainbow stripes from top to bottom.

But after he moved into the house in February, a few of his neighbors in the island community, population 7,071, didn’t agree.

The evening of March 16, O’Halloran said, he heard somebody banging on his door. When he opened it, five angry men confronted him over his plan to paint his house with bright rainbow colors, he said.

“They’d heard about it through a conversation with the painter who was painting my kitchen,” said O’Halloran, 29. “They told me, ‘Don’t do it. Paint your house and see what happens, because next time we meet, it won’t be so nice.’ “

“One of them said I would make his house drop in value by $20,000 if I painted my house in ‘stupid’ colors,” he added.

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The men shouted homophobic slurs, said O’Halloran, and one of them threatened to kill him if he went ahead with his rainbow project.

“I froze up inside and thought I was about to be seriously injured,” he said.

O’Halloran said he told the men he didn’t feel comfortable talking to them and shut the door. Then he phoned the police. One man was charged a few days later with unlawful assault and making threats to kill, according to a statement from Victoria Police.

O’Halloran decided to share his story about the unsettling experience on Facebook and other social media.

“I cried myself to sleep last night after feeling so invaded, homophobically attacked and threatened in my very own home,” he wrote.

O’Halloran also wrote that he was not going to allow anyone to bully him out of his island getaway. He would proceed with his plan to paint the house as a big rainbow.

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Hundreds of people who read his post agreed, and they volunteered to help him paint it.

“For every rat bag like him, the island has a thousand others who welcome you,” one neighbor commented.

“You paint your house whatever colors you want to! I’m so sorry this happened to you!” commented a woman from Pennsylvania.

Within days, O’Halloran had a small army of volunteers lined up, and the Dulux paint company had donated 12 gallons of house paint in rainbow hues, he said.

On April 18, more than 100 people — including several children, a few home renovators and a couple of police officers — came to O’Halloran’s house and spent seven hours painting the house, deck and fence in stripes of blue, green, yellow, orange, purple and pink. One donor had eight surveillance cameras installed at O’Halloran’s house in case anyone threatens him again.

Hundreds of others chipped in about $7,750 for a fundraiser O’Halloran organized this month with local businesses to benefit the local community group Phillip Island Community and Learning Centre.

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“The positive response filled my heart with love and made me feel supported and not alone,” O’Halloran said. “People were dropping by to shake my hand, say hello and welcome me to the neighborhood.”

Linda Wilson, a counselor who lives on the island and facilitates a “Rainbow Connect” support group for the LGBTQ community, was among those who picked up a paintbrush.

“When I heard about what had happened to Mykey, I felt it was important that I be involved and show solidarity and support for him,” said Wilson, 47.

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“There was a lot of openheartedness there on the day [the house was painted], and someone volunteered their time with a barbecue to feed all who attended,” she added.

“When I heard about the awful reaction [Mykey] had faced, I threw myself into it wholeheartedly,” said Denni Slorach, 42, who runs a print shop in Grantville, Australia, about 25 miles from Phillip Island. She designed a rainbow house logo and stickers in support of the event.

“The day came from love and joy in life, and the finished house will be uniquely Mykey — a representation of his rainbow soul,” she said. “So many people said they thought it would look awful, but now that they’ve seen it, they’re pleasantly surprised by how well it turned out.”

O’Halloran couldn’t contain his delight when the last bright coat of paint had dried. He and others in the community are hoping to put on the island’s first pride parade.

“I know in my heart that I’m a good person, and I deserve inclusion and acceptance for how I wish to live my life,” he said.

“My message now is don’t let anyone else dull your sparkle, and always stay true to yourself.”

This story was originally published at washingtonpost.com. Read it here.

From the closet to the catwalk, queer fashion is a form of self-expression – Columbia Chronicle

Kim Martel
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From the closet to the catwalk, queer fashion is a form of self-expression – Columbia Chronicle

However, as much as queer fashion can be exuberant and flashy, it is important not to fall into stereotypes. The LGBTQ+ community is extremely diverse, which means there are also people in the community who rarely think about fashion, or do not think about it consciously, Milne said.

Ariana Kanaya, a junior acting major who identifies as queer, said a lot of the differences between queer and heterosexual forms of expression lie in “stereotypes and people’s fear of breaking from concrete norms.”

Kanaya said that while style is a large outlet for self-expression, it is important not to generalize or exclusively think of queer fashion in one way.

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