Tag Archives: Lesbian Couple

Ruby Rose and Phoebe Dahl End Engagement

Australian DJ-now-actress Ruby Rose and fashion designer (and granddaughter of author Roald Dahl) Phoebe Dahl, have called time on their two year romance.

Phoebe Dahl Ruby Rose 01

They were engaged in March 2014, with Rose revealing on Instagram at the time that she had asked Dahl to get married three times previously.

The pair have yet to give a reason for the “amicable” break up, but talking to US weekly on Monday, Dahl-who owns clothing company Faithcloth & Supply said :

After two wonderful years together, Ruby and I have decided to part ways. While we still love each other and support each other in every way, it is our mutual decision to part ways. Our break is not the result of any media speculation, and we want nothing but the best for each other. Thank you for respecting our privacy in this very difficult time”.

Rose – who is currently filming Resident Evil: The Final Chapter – tweeted a positive message to Dahl Monday night, and Dahl responded in kind.

@FAIRCLOTHSUPPLY remains very dear to my heart,” the star wrote. “I will forever treasure our time together. I’m a better person because of all we shared.”

Dahl tweeted

@RubyRose you have brought me to my best and I will always love you. I can’t wait to see what the future brings for us.”

Rose also posted this to Facebook.

Phoebe remains very dear to my heart. I will forever treasure our time together. I’m a better person because of the time we shared. They say, “it’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” I’m lucky to have had the chance to love her.”

A couple of months back, the couple decided to postpone their vows due to their busy schedules – but there was worry within the industry that the distance would take it’s toll on the relationship.

ruby rose 01

As it turns out we love being engaged, and I love the word ‘fiancée.’ It’s actually nice that we do wait that extra year and get to enjoy being engaged before we ball-and-chain it.’

Rose has upcoming roles on the big screen in Resident Evil: The Final Chapter and John Wick 2 opposite Keanu Reeves.

Eva Longoria, Melanie Laurent and More Pose as Same-Sex Couples for ‘Imaginary Couples’ Photography Project

Although France made same-sex marriage legal in 2013, the country is far from being a bastion of LGB equality.

Homophobic attacks are reportedly on the rise in the country, experiencing a 78% increase in 2013 and France’s far-right political party Front National (which opposes and campaigns against same-sex marriage) is also growing in popularity.

One person hoping he can turn this around is French artist Olivier Chiappa.

Chiappa has put together a new photography project called ‘Imaginary Couples’, for which he has enlisted famous (heterosexual) people to portray same sex couples “in a realistic and intimate way”.

12339082_1160694990609929_9214880459297041262_o

Melanie Laurent, Eva Longoria, Lara Fabian and Audrey Dana are all part of the photoshoot, with Ciappa saying that he told his subjects that “You’re with the person you love. Not a man, not a woman”, adding that “at the session, I disappear, for they are one with each other”.

12362810_1159787364034025_7950673812486697031_o

Chiappa says that he was inspired to create Imaginary Couples “because of the hate he had been seeing in his home country a few years ago” and speaking to BFM TV, the artist further explains that “we need to get a message to the attention of those who hammer that there is no homophobia in France, I make these pictures to educate people; those who do not want to see even if they think they have open minds”.

The campaign has already proved that homophobia is alive and well as last week the photos were vandalised as they hung at the gates of the Grand Rond Garden in Toulouse, France and then, soon after the vandalised photos were replaced, the new photos were stolen.

005

Chiappa responded to the incidents on his Facebook page (translated via Google):

The first time, they wanted to show their displeasure. The second time, they have totally decided to erase the expo for that no passing Toulouse can’t see her. By stealing all the photos, nothing is visible, as if the expo did not exist.Not only the old photos vandalized that I had held to keep exposed to the sight of all are no longer here, but also all the new panels that had been installed the day before by the town hall!

They want to censor this kind of photos that they find offensive? This is not a problem. There’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. There’s the button like, there’s the share button. And we can use them.”

People do seem to be sharing the photos both as a response to this and because of the stars attached to the project (this perhaps explains why Chiappa didn’t enlist real-life same-sex couples for the shoot) so hopefully people do change their stances as a result.
12308150_1158588174153944_6649282470115994146_o 12363027_1159839490695479_3372771187294926591_o 12308222_1160060094006752_2572375129617261195_o

 

‘Between the Blocks’ Shows the Struggles and Beauty of a Polish Lesbian Couple and Their Family

If you read a few headlines about recent activity in Poland and it’s easy to get a grasp on what the country’s ‘intolerant’ culture looks like. In September, Amnesty International’s expert on discrimination in Europe and Central Asia, Marco Perolini said that “Poland has a two-tiered legal system that protects some minority groups but leaves others to fend for themselves” and that if you are a gay person who has been attacked, the police won’t treat it as a hate crime.

Poland doesn’t have same-sex marriage either (with 68% of the population against it) and even civil unions are a contentious issue with the Sejm (the lower house of Polish parliament) having refused to debate the issue twice in the last 12 months. Poland’s Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz has stated that civil partnerships are simply a problem for the next parliament to deal with.

So with all of this sitting uncomfortably on the mind of Poland’s same-sex couples, what is it actually like for them to live in the country? A new photography story called Between the Block (by photographer Anna Liminowicz) aims to answer, as it follows the life of Honorata and Agnieszka, a same-sex couple who live in Poland with their two children (from previous relationships), Antek and Natalia.

The photos follow a look at the couple’s home life, how they all interact as a family and it even includes some shots of the couple at work too.

When Liminowicz first met the family, Agnieszka, Honorata, Natalia and Honorata’s brother Michal were living in a 19-square metre apartment in Gdansk and though it sounds awfully cramped, the photographer notes that they always seemed to be laughing or smiling and they were always willing to help out a friend or loved one if they needed it.

Eventually, Agnieszka and Honorata both get promoted as managers at the supermarket that they both work at and so they move out to a three-bedroom apartment in Kalisz. Here, Antek joins them; previously he son stayed with his grandparents as Agnieszka’s parents weren’t too happy about her sexuality, despite how close-knit the family is. (And while Agnieszka’s parents seem to be ok with Antek’s current living situation, it’s worth noting that neither of them were willing to comment on the story when the images were featured in a Polish newspaper).

As for what the couple hopes that they’ll accomplish by being part of Between the Blocks, they hope to show ‘the joy that their relationship brings to the family’, according to Feature Shoot.

More than that though, Honorata and Agnieszka desire acceptance and tolerance, says the publication, as with Antek’s father often being hassled by his friends to keep Antek away from his mother and her partner and with the aforementioned tolerance difficulties in the country, Poland still has a long way to go until they are treated equally.

Costa Rica’s First Lesbian Wedding Briefly Happened Due To Clerical Error

A Costa Rican woman was able to marry her girlfriend because her birth certificate records her as male.

In 1991, when Jazmin Elizondo Arias was born, someone made a mistake and noted on her birth certificate that she was male, and no one corrected the record officially due to the drawn out administration involved.

Nearly 25 years later – thanks to the simple clerical error – Elizondo was able to become one half of the first same-sex couple to marry legally in Costa Rica – at least briefly.

Jazmin Elizondo Arias

Elizondo and her partner Laura Florez-Estrada Pimentel married quietly on 25 July; their news became Costa Rican news only last week after they received their marriage certificate.

The publicity prompted an unusually quick response by Civil Registry officials, who reviewed Elizondo’s records, reclassified her as a woman and annulled the marriage. They also opened criminal complaints against the women and Marco Castillo, the lawyer, for allegedly performing an “impossible marriage”.

costarica

Florez-Estrada said.

It’s clear the Civil Registry moved out of hate, because they not only annulled the marriage but filed this criminal complaint,”

According to Costa Rican law, knowingly entering into a marriage where there is an impediment carries a possible prison sentence of six months to three years.

Jazmin Elizondo Arias 01

While Elizondo and Florez-Estrada await possible prosecution, the Constitutional Court is considering the case of another gay couple, whose relationship was recognised as a “de facto union” by a family judge on 2 July. Several versions of a bill proposing to recognise same-sex unions have been presented in congress, sparking fierce opposition from political parties with religious ties.

Florez-Estrada said the couple knew they could face legal problems if they went public with their marriage, but decided to do so anyway.

We had to make public that it was not our mistake. It is a question of basic rights.”

First Xmas Article Alert (But Its Worth It) | This Christmas Video Will Get Your Lesbian Holiday Spirit Going

Yes, we know it’s a little early for Christmas music, but I think you’ll agree that this music video is certainly an exception to the rule.

Featuring real-life couple and recording artists, Danielle LoPresti and Alicia Champion (along with their cute four-year-old son Xander), this video gives us a fresh spin on the classic Christmas tune I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.

santa 03

Shared LoPresti:

As a multi-racial, same-sex, foster-adoptive family, Alicia and I are always seeking out examples in the media of other families like ours to share with our child. We looked online and per usual, didn’t find a single video of a family that resembled ours… so we thought that since we have access to the resources, we could have some fun helping to fill that void.”

santa

The video is also a beacon for the LGBTQ community, a love letter to those who are also in “non-traditonal” structures which really have no representation in the familiar spotlights, especially for the holidays. Champion and her family feel that by creating the video, it gives others the opportunity to look at their own relationships and connect.

We wanted to normalize our family experience for the mainstream and show that queer families are no different than any others. As parents… we all miss our private intimate time. Our family life is quite similar, indeed…except that we don’t actually live in a 1950’s Technicolor dreamland, and that Alicia is nowhere near that fem on a regular basis. We do have a lot of fun everyday, and especially after we came so close to losing Danielle two years ago, we try really hard to practice constant gratitude for every moment; we laugh and play a lot.”

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus is the first single off LoPresti’s upcoming album, Winter’s Light.

For more information check out danielleandthemasses.com.

Watch Hayley Kiyoko’s Steamy New Video for ‘Cliffs Edge’

Hayley Kiyoko‘s EP This Side Of Paradise was well received upon its release back in February and now she’s just dropped the video for Cliffs Edge.

Kiyoko's Video

The new video stars Hayley as one half of a queer couple dealing with some serious drama.

The self-directed clip – which is super steamy – follows the couple as they go through the motions of a relationship, all of which described in the song and acting out through a pink and blue hue.

Speaking to The FADER, Kiyoko said

I wanted to show a tumultuous love that constantly twists and turns, when each person feels pushed to an emotional cliff’s edge. But ultimately you have to save yourself from ‘drowning’ in those emotions; take a step back, take a breath and know that everything is going to be ok.”

This Couple Kissed In Public And Ended Up In Jail

A police officer in Hawaii is under investigation after allegedly arresting two women for kissing in public.

Couple Kissed In Public And Ended Up In Jail In Hawaii 02

The couple Taylor Guerrero and Courtney Wilson from Los Angeles, were holidaying on the islands in March this year when they stopped off at a Woodland grocery store.

Officer Bobby Harrison is then said to have taken offence at the pair’s public displays of affection when they began kissing.

According to a lawsuit, the pair were hugging and holding hands as they walked through the aisles, while Harrison “observed their consensual romantic contact and, in a loud voice, ordered plaintiffs to stop and ‘take it somewhere else.’”

The couple, who have been dating for two years, complied with the officer’s demands but were allegedly told they would be thrown out of the store when he saw them being affectionate again.

Things soon turned physical when the pair queued up to pay for their goods, according to Guerrero.

He was bumping his belly against Courtney. He said, ‘you girls don’t know how to act. You don’t know the difference between a motel and a grocery store.’”

Guerrero then claimed she was shoved by Harrison when she tried to defend her girlfriend and kicked him as she fell.

Wilson added:

The whole situation got physical. I got punched in the face by him.”

Other shoppers could only watch as shop staff restrained the couple as Harrison arrested them for assault on an officer.

The pair were jailed for three days before they were released and ordered to stay in Honolulu, where they had to stay with friends and family.

Their charges were eventually dropped.

The Honolulu Police Department have now launched an investigation into wrongful arrest while Harrison remains on active duty.

Foodland have since apologised to the couple over the incident.

Pics: Jennifer Sinco Kelleher/AP

Lesbian Couple Arrested For Hugging In Indonesia And Forced To Undergo “Rehabilitation For Lesbianism”

Human rights campaigners have voiced concerns for the women’s safety, after they were arrested in Indonesia and forced to undergo “rehabilitation for lesbianism”. As yet, it’s unclear what the ‘rehabilitation’ will entail.

The couple, aged 18 and 19 and known only by their initials AS and N, were detained in the country’s Sharia-controlled Aceh province after they were seen hugging.

The area is governed by strict Sharia law, which means the women could face caning, prison, or a large fine.

While Shariah police chief Evendi Latief admitted that the pair had confirmed they were lesbians during four days of questioning, he denied their human rights had been violated.

They will undergo rehabilitation which involves psychologists from local Social Ministry office.”

However, Graeme Reid from Human Rights Watch claimed the arrest and subsequent treatment of the girls exhibited an “outrageous abuse of power”.

The arrest of two women in Aceh for everyday behaviour is an outrageous abuse of power that should be considered a threat to all Indonesians. The Indonesian government needs to press Aceh to repeal its discriminatory new bylaws.”

LGBT people are regularly targeted by authorities in the area – just last month, ten trans women were arrested for ‘cross-dressing’, before being forced to leave.

Aceh is the only province in the Muslim-majority country that operates strict Sharia law.

Since last year, gay sex is punishable by punished a 100 months in jail, 100 lashes, or a fine equivalent to 1,000 grams of gold.

Homosexuality is legal in the rest of Indonesia, though the age of consent for gay sex is higher than for straight sex.

Indonesia has the world’s largest Muslim population – but outside of the Aceh, most practice a more moderate form of the faith.

Love Wins: Lesbian Couple Celebrate Their First Wedding Anniversary After 73 Years Together

Alice “Nonie” Dubes and Vivian Boyack made headline news last year, as they were finally able to marry after 72 year relationship.

One year later, and their first-anniversary celebration were a much simpler affair, with only two close friends as guest, the menu cherry pie à la mode and iced tea.

Dubes and Boyack, 91 and 92 years old respectively, had been a couple for 72 years before they were married in a small ceremony in Iowa in September 2014.

Alice Dubes and Vivian Boyack 02

It was the first time their relationship had been made public.

Talking to the Guardian, Dubes said

It’s been fine, because we were together for 72 years before. We just couldn’t get married. Nothing’s changed. Still the same – very good.”

In the year since Dubes and Boyack married, same-sex marriage has become legal nationwide. That was a change few predicted in the early 2000s, let alone when the couple met in the 40s.

Alice Dubes and Vivian Boyack 03

Dubes thinks the couple’s closest friends knew about the relationship, though it was not discussed until their marriage at the First Christian Church in Davenport, where they have lived since 1947.

Iowa was one of the first states to make same-sex marriage legal, when the state’s ban was struck down in April 2009.

The couple are not interested in discussing the decades they have spent together.

We’re old and grouchy. We get that way sometimes, but just think how many years we’ve known each other.”

Since their story made international headlines, Dubes and Boyack have declined press requests and book offers, communicating their wishes through a man they have known since they were both 19.

They spend most of their days as they did before they were married – maintaining their four-room apartment and zipping around their retirement village on electric scooters.

Alice Dubes and Vivian Boyack 04

Kathleen Turner to Star In Trans Drama Play

American actor Kathleen Turner is a highly esteemed figure in Hollywood. Rising to prominence in the 1980s, Turner starred in Romancing the Stone (a rom-com that also featured Michael Douglas) and Prizzi’s Honor (a mob drama with Jack Nicholson) two roles which saw her win Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress.

Kathleen Turner 02

And then, for her role in Peggy Sue Got Married, Turner was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress and she was also up for Best Foreign Actress at the Premis Sant Jordi de Cinema.

It may seem odd then that with such a high profile career, the star’s next project is being led by a (little known) playwright from Altoona, Pennsylvania named John S. Anastasi.

And Turner isn’t the only big name to join Anastasi’s off-Broadway production either as Grammy Award nominated R&B singer Deborah Cox has also been added to the cast.

The play in question is called Would You Still Love Me If…, a drama about a lesbian couple whose relationship is tested when one of the women questions her gender and she considers undergoing gender reassignment surgery.

Kathleen Turner plays the mother of the woman questioning her gender identity, Deborah Cox (who has appeared on Broadway before, it should be noted) will play the surgeon, while the lesbian couple will be played by Rebecca Brooksher and Sofia Jean Gomez.

Of the inspiration behind the play, Anastasi explains that (French lesbian drama) Blue Is The Warmest Colour helped him come up with the idea.

About a year ago, I was down in the Village, and I went to see ‘Blue Is the Warmest Color’. I was moved by the relationship of these two women, and was pondering if there was anything that could change their love. For some reason, it crossed my mind — what if one of them decided they wanted to physically change. That was the germ of the idea.”

Many queer media fans have butted heads over whether Blue Is The Warmest Colour is good representation or not as the film gives into to the ‘woman cheating on her girlfriend with a man’ trope and the 10-minute long sex scene between the two leads has also been labelled as ‘exploitation’ by some.

So it remains to be seen if Would You Still Love Me If…, will do a better job with its lesbian couple despite its inspiration, but previews begin on September 26 so we should have a clearer picture then.

 

Two Women Arrested After Allegedly Attacking Lesbian Couple at US Theme Park

According to police reports, two women have been arrested after allegedly attacking and injuring a lesbian couple they observed kissing, at Six Flags New England.

Damarielys Mukhtar, 29, of Springfield and Nikia L. Butt, 27, of Holyoke were arraigned in Westfield District Court last week on charges of assault and battery, and a civil rights violation with injury.

 

Mukhtar faces an additional charge of assault with a dangerous weapon, court documents show.

Local papers report that the couple, aged 18 and 19, were kissing and hugging outside the theme park when they noticed Mukhtar staring in their direction.

One of the girls asked Mukhtar if she had a problem. She told them that she didn’t and was simply waiting on her child. Mukhtar went on to say:

I wouldn’t care about your gay asses anyway.“

When the couple proceeded to walk away, Mukhtar began hurling homophobic insults at them.

When the girls challenged Mukhtar, she began punching them in the face. One of the girls was kicked to the ground. It was at this point that Butt began assaulting the couple.

The couple alleges that Mukhtar took the three-inch knife from her pocket and brandished it at them.

The assault ended when a crowd began to gather. Butt and Mukhtar attempted to flee the scene but were later apprehended at a car park where they were identified by the victims.

The two victims are students at Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island and are thought to have suffered only minor injuries.

Taiwan Looks to be The First Asian Country to Legalise Same-Sex Marriage

Taiwan’s government’s plans to draft a “same-sex partnership” law, which would make Taiwan the first region in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage.

Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s legalisation of same-sex marriage last month, the authorities in Taiwan have announced that they have decided to draft a same-sex partnership law to mirror with the global trend and keep up with the public’s changing opinion regarding the subject.

Taiwan-LGBT-Supporters-02

Lo Ying-hsueh – head of Taiwan’s judicial body – said the government will put proposed bills regarding same-sex marriage online, allowing the public to vote on them freely.

The results of these votes would then serve as a guide to the government when they make changes to legislature, the Global Times reports.

Last year, an online poll revealed that 68% of the population supported same-sex marriage.

Taiwan-LGBT-Supporters-01

Taiwan’s LGBT community have been campaigning for same-sex unions for years – last week, thousands of supporters flooded the streets of Taipei in a bid to urge the government to change the country’s stance on gay marriage.

And although many welcome a law aimed at giving homosexuals legal protection, some activists have questioned why the government’s decision to draft a completely new law, rather than make amendments to the current marriage law.

Chen Ling – a lesbian as well as gay rights activist – argued

The fact that the government decided to set a new same-sex partnership law discriminates against homosexuals and it shows that homosexual couples are different from heterosexuals.”

Also read: Lesbian Couple in Taiwan Fight Court Over Adoption Rights

However, politicians from the country’s main parties have attempted to quash rumours that the change is simply an attempt to gain votes in the upcoming election and promised that the proposed changes will only strengthen the LGBT community’s place in Taiwanese society.

Taiwan-LGBT-Supporters

Hong Chih-kun, a member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)’s central executive committee said

Taiwan’s gay movement has been active for at least 10 years and many polls show that Taiwan society is mature enough to accept gay marriage.”

DPP chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen said gay marriage reflects equality and upholds human rights, while Hung Hsiu-chu, Kuomintang’s head, also said she maintains an “open and optimistic” attitude toward homosexuality.

The marriage equality bill – which would legalise same-sex marriage and allow married gay couples to adopt children – was reviewed for the first time at the Judiciary Committee in December last year, after the DPP described current laws as discriminatory and unfair.

However, the discussion was put on hold, due to opposition from conservative Christian groups who have formed a network to organise rallies and petition signature collections to lobby against marriage equality.

Judge Rules That Utah Must Recognise Lesbian Couple as Joint Mothers on Birth Certificate

On Wednesday a federal judge ordered the state of Utah to list the names of a lesbian couple on a birth certificate of their new baby. Lawyers say the ruling is the first of its kind since the U.S. Supreme Court legalised gay.

Utah-Couple

U.S. District Judge Dee Benson said the assisted reproduction case wasn’t hard to decide.

The state has failed to demonstrate any legitimate reason, actually any reason at all, for not treating a female spouse in a same-sex marriage the same as a male spouse in an opposite-sex marriage.”

Angie and Kami Roe of West Jordan said in their lawsuit on the issue that the state should treat wedded lesbian couples the same as heterosexual couples who use sperm donors to have children.

State law automatically recognises a husband who agrees to assisted reproduction as a father, but the Utah attorney general’s office contended that doesn’t extend to same-sex couples because child bearing is legally different from marriage.

State attorneys wrote in court documents

It is a fact that a non-biologically related female spouse can never be the biological father of a child. It is a biological impossibility for a woman who does not give birth to a child to establish paternity of a child through the act of birth.”

Parker Douglas with the Utah attorney general’s office said Wednesday that listing non-biological parents on a birth certificate could throw off state record-keeping and disrupt the ability of authorities to identify public health trends.

The judge, however, pointed out that the same problem could apply when married heterosexual couples use sperm donors.

Douglas declined to comment on whether the state would appeal the ruling.

The Roes sued after hospital staff members refused to take their birth certificate paperwork shortly after Kami Roe gave birth in February. Utah officials told the couple that one mother must adopt the baby as a step-parent, a process the Roes say is costly, invasive and unfair.

The ruling requires Utah to declare married lesbian parents to be legal moms from birth, but it doesn’t apply to male same-sex couples because they typically use a surrogate.

Similar cases have come up in Iowa and Arkansas, said family law expert Douglas NeJamie. He expects to see more, especially in states that had sought to keep laws banning same-sex marriage on the books. Utah spent $1.2 million to defend its ban on same-sex marriage, state officials have said.

Many states have similar laws governing artificial insemination that previously had not applied to same-sex unions because the rules were specific to married couples, said NeJamie, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles.

This is an easy way to actually try and discriminate against same-sex couples.”

The Utah case could have an effect on other pending cases, though the parental rights of same-sex couples will depend on what state laws are already on the books for heterosexual couples, he said.

Lesbian Couple Marry in China to Push for Same-Sex Marriage in the Country

A prominent Chinese lesbian couple held a simple ceremony on Thursday to announce their informal marriage in their latest effort to push for the legalisation of same-sex unions in China.

Dressed in white bridal gowns, they held an informal wedding in front of two dozen friends at a restaurant in Beijing.

china-same-sex-marriage-01

china-same-sex-marriage-02

They had planned to try and make it official at their local registry office but were warned against “making a scene” by police.

Talking to CNN, Li said before the wedding banquet

I feel like this is the right time. We’ve been together for so long.”

In their push to get same-sex unions recognised in China, Li and her partner said they were partly inspired by last week’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court decision to extend same-sex marriage rights across all 50 states.

The ruling has provoked a national conversation in China about gay rights, not least because the court’s majority decision quoted the Chinese sage Confucius – “Marriage lies at the foundation of government.”

The passage has been shared widely on Chinese social media; mainly drawing supportive comments.

Li, a well-known women’s rights campaigner, was among five feminists detained in China in early March for 37 days in a crackdown on social activism.

During that time, she wasn’t allowed to see her partner because same-sex unions aren’t recognised, she said.

I hope by doing this, we’re married no matter whether it’s legal or not. We’re married women now!”

Li said her parents didn’t attend the wedding, which was attended by two dozen of her friends. She said they were ashamed of her.

But they will spend their honeymoon in Harbin, northern China – Xu’s hometown – as her parents are more supportive.

‘The Vampire Diaries’ Spoiler: Lesbian Couple Heading to The Show

Well here is a turn up for the books! The American TV network CW has just announced that The Vampire Diaries is introducing – wait for it – the show’s first same-sex couple.

The-vampire-diaries-nadia-rebekah-and-matt-o

Although, it’s too early to tell the exact plot, the new characters already have particular descriptions. However, what we do know is two characters Nora and Mary Louise, are a dangerous duo of down-low lovers with murderous tendencies.

According to TV Line:

The vampires, both turned in their mid-20s, have kept their relationship a secret for more than a century, and although their connection is clear to those able to infiltrate their inner circle. Mary Louise’s constant doting can sometimes feel a bit smothery for fiery Nora’s liking. Still, anyone foolish enough to cross either of them will feel both their wraths.

There’s not much else know about the roles but we chuffed to hear the show is finally giving us some more lesbian visibility.

Season 7 of The Vampire Diaries premieres on October 7th on the CW.

 

Jamaican Lesbian Couple Wants to Get Married Before They Die

As far as LGBT rights goes, Jamaica has a pretty abysmal track record. Sexual acts between two men are still punishable by law (they face up to 10 years of imprisonment if caught), and levels of anti-LGBT violence in the country are incredibly widespread.

There are regular reports of ‘corrective rapes’ of non-heterosexual women and it’s not uncommon to hear about gay men being stoned or beaten to death – and these crimes are often overlooked by the police, who fail to acknowledge them as a hate crime.

In the past few years, Jamaica has been criticised by both the United Nations (who said that the country allowed legalised homophobia) as well as by President Barack Obama who recently spoke about the need for equality in the country when he visited the island earlier this year.

However, the country has a long history of homophobia due to British colonialism and the religious beliefs of its citizens too.

As a result, Jamaica’s current landscape makes same-sex marriage – or any LGBT rights at all –  a far off possibility.

This is a shame for lesbian couple Carla and Krystal, who recently gave an interview with the Jamaica Gleaner saying that they hope to get married in Jamaica before they die.

Speaking to the publication, Carla said that:

My partner and I used to contemplate marriage. Perhaps we were naive at first, but that blossomed into a bit of boldness. I’m not sure if my partner knows how disheartening it has been for me, when I sometimes sit in solitude and question why things have to be this way. Why are people so opposed to allowing lesbians to marry each other?

She has always been there for me when I was unemployed and on the verge of depression. She always provided emotional support like no other, and who remains equally, if not more committed to us and the prosperity of our union, and yet, I am not allowed to marry her.”

Carla also added that when the time is right, she and Krystal would like to challenge Jamaica’s Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms; these state that marriage is a human right. Though, Carla also realises that she will have a hard time getting two-thirds of Jamaica’s government to rule in favour of a same-sex marriage ruling should she go ahead with that legal battle.

Yogurt Advert Feature Lesbian Couple Prompts Homophobic Backlash from ‘One Million Moms’

The group ‘One Million Moms’ have history of going after the LGBT community.

A few years ago it was Ellen, because how dare a lesbian be a spokesperson for JC Penney.

Now it is the new TV advert for yoghurt company Chobani.

chobani_yogurt_gif

Chobani Attempts to Normalize Sin.”

In the new ad, a tousled and clearly undressed blonde relaxes in bed, enjoying a carton of Chobani. She languidly licks the spoon, scoops out the remains with her finger and looks slyly over at her sleeping bedmate, whose foot she teasingly strokes.

Then she gets up, pulling the sheet with her, and her partner — who like her is clearly wearing a wedding ring, by the way — rouses gently and smiles.

As the Moms put it,

This commercial not only promotes same sex relationships by including two lesbians, but also same sex marriage because the two women wear matching wedding bands. The ad states, ‘To Love this Life is to Live it Naturally.’ There is nothing natural about homosexuality.”

Chobani’s chief marketing officer, meanwhile, says,

We’re a national food company that has beliefs, from animal welfare to equality.”

The Moms do ask, somewhat reasonably,

What does selling yogurt have to do with gay sex?”

and of course the answer is not a whole lot.

That’s what makes the Chobani ad unique and important. God knows using sex in ads in nothing new. Even using sex in yogurt ads is nothing new. Using gay people in ads in increasingly common, too — but the trend of the past few years has been steadfastly portraying them as your safe, family-friendly neighbours.

Honey Maid’s sweet Love ad from last year rode on the tagline of “This is wholesome,” and more recently, Wells Fargo has been running a spot featuring a pair of nice lesbians learning sign language in preparation of adopting a deaf child.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3Z5pAZe0E8

Yogurt Company Join Pride Brigade With New TV Advert Featuring Lesbian Couple

Latest TV spot from Chobani features a lesbian couple. The company’s advert – To Love This Life is to Live Naturally – highlights a social issue that aligns with the yogurt company’s core foundations of equality and acceptance.

Peter McGuinness, chief marketing and brand officer of Chobani, said

We’ve been an inclusive brand from the beginning and equal rights has been fundamental and foundational for this brand. The founding mission of Chobani was better food for more people. Good food shouldn’t be a privilege, it should be a right, and we want to make it available to all.”

The $15 million “Love This Life” campaign, comes from Opermann Weiss and focuses on telling the modern American story by emphasizing the role Chobani plays within people’s lives.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3Z5pAZe0E8

Being different, through advertising and product, is one reason Mr. McGuinness thinks the brand is flourishing.

As the leader of the category it’s our role and responsibility to grow the category and inspire the category and be different. We don’t want to do taste-offs and comparison ads, we don’t want to take the typical approach.”

Seth Adam, the director-communications for GLAAD, thinks that showcasing LGBT acceptance is becoming increasingly important for brands.

More and more companies are beginning to realize that supporting equality doesn’t stop at having inclusive workplace polices. Supporting equality also means being inclusive in your advertising and marketing and your outreach to your community and customers. I think that’s what you’re seeing here is Chobani taking that next step and saying ‘We support acceptance and equality and this is what that looks like.'”

The “Love This Life” campaign will run through September, and includes a print and social media campaign as well as new product labels.

Lesbian Visibility is Getting Better, 10 Must Watch LGBT Ad Campaigns That Melt the Heart (Videos)

We have come a long way when it comes to lesbian in the media visibility. Ads today are both inclusive and respectful, and often boldly targeting the LGBT community directly.

But what is so great about these new adverts, is they are empowering and honest. And as we all know empowering and honest ads don’t always come our way, specially when it comes to women and representing the LGBT community.

1. Anouk Ethnic

Created by clothing company Anouk Ethnic, the advert depicts a couple getting ready for a visit from one of the women’s parents, who will be meeting her girlfriend for the first time. This is a first for India – where same-sex relationships are illegal.

2. Cornetto

Game, set and it’s a match made in heaven when a young girl finds herself as an accidental target for love. Her relationship with a tennis pro doesn’t start off well but will our Cupid, Lily Allen help to bring them together?

3. O Boticário

O Boticário commercial made a big impact in Brazil, causing both negative and positive commentary on social media channels because it should same-sex couples.

4. Wells Fargo

The US bank is promoting and embracing of diversity with a series of new adverts – one of which features a lesbian couple who are learning sign language for a very special reason.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxDsx8HfXEk

5. Marriott

As part of Marriott International’s #LoveTravels campaign, LGBT couples share their genuine love for one another that they feel translates into a language people can understand, no matter their beliefs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrWtZjc1Vlc

6. Micorsoft

Software giant Microsoft released a television advert for their Outlook.com campaign which included a scene of two women getting married.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzj0PVMdT7Q

7. Matalan

Matalan launched a major new advertising campaign in the UK, aimed at showing the range of different households in Britain today.

8. Hallmark

Hallmark’s commercial featured a real-life lesbian couple talking about all the things they love about each other, and it’s perhaps the cutest thing ever.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6XGYifGseg

 

9. Target

Target aired a commercial called, “Baby Digs: The Magic of Space,” which featured a married lesbian couple Amanda Deibert and Cat Staggs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALU_br7r7nY

10. Natwest

The advert (which is for the bank’s ‘Cashback Plus’ service) doesn’t make a big song and dance out of the fact that the couple are lesbians (which is what usually happens), the point the ad is making is that we are all different, and that’s okay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHG3hVTzwyk

 

Gay Rights Opponent Bank Boycott Backfires as They Transfer million LGBT-Friendly Bank (Video)

Leading the charge to boycott businesses “who promote sin” by advertising toward gay people, evangelical leader Franklin Graham has transferred millions of dollars out of one bank into another.

But as Maddow was happy to report, his plan backfired in the best way possible.

Franklin Graham, son of evangelical pastor Billy Graham and president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, has called on Christians to “fight the tide of moral decay that is being crammed down our throats by big business, the media, and the gay [and] lesbian community”.

In a Facebook post, he urged his followers to boycott Tiffany’s for having advertised wedding rings for same-sex couples, as well as Wells Fargo, which recently aired a TV ad, which showed two gay women learning sign language to prepare for the adoption of a deaf daughter.

Also read: Billy Graham’s Church Pulls Bank Accounts From Wells Fargo Because They Featured a Lesbian Couple in TV Ad

But their new bank, North Carolina-based BB&T, is one of the sponsors of this year’s Miami Beach Gay Pride Parade, host of a Miami fundraiser for gay “legacy couples”, and has a high rating from the LGBT activists of Human Rights Campaign.

BB&T spokesperson Brian Davis said the bank

… embraces diversity regardless of their race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity. We do not take formal positions on non-banking or social issues.”

Wow, India Gets its First TV Ad Featuring A Lesbian Couple (Video)

While the Indian courts take their time deciding the fate of Indian’s LGBT community, with the verdict on legalising Section 377 still pending, clothing company Anouk  have gone ahead in taking the issue to every household.

The delightful ad features two women preparing to meet one of the parents and talking about their relationship.

India Lesbian Couple advert 01

The video ends with the women preparing to not “hide it anymore.”

India Lesbian Couple advert 02

Here’s India’s first lesbian ad and it is nothing short of amazing.

Billy Graham’s Church Pulls Bank Accounts From Wells Fargo Because They Featured a Lesbian Couple in TV Ad

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is pulling its bank accounts from Wells Fargo & Co. to protest the bank’s new ad featuring a lesbian couple.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxDsx8HfXEk

A the advert is charming and heart-warming story of two women trying hard to learn sign language. At first it’s unclear who they are or what their motivation is, but quickly it’s revealed they are a couple and they are adopting a young girl who is deaf. The ad focuses on the importance of family and financial planning.

wells-fargo-01 wells-fargo-02

Everyone works hard for a reason. Working together, we can help you prepare financially for when two becomes three,” the Wells Fargo voiceover says.

Franklin Graham, Billy Graham’s son and the group’s CEO and president, urged followers on Facebook to boycott companies that support the gay community.

This is one way we as Christians can speak out — we have the power of choice,”

Graham wrote on his Facebook page.

Let’s just stop doing business with those who promote sin and stand against Almighty God’s laws and His standards. Maybe if enough of us do this, it will get their attention. Share this if you agree.”

The Facebook post has over 92,000 likes and has been shared more than 41,000 times as of Monday afternoon.

However, many of the thousands of comments on the post express frustration with Graham’s words.

One Facebook user wrote.

I can’t express how disappointed I am in Franklin Graham’s anti-gay stance,”

San Francisco-based Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) launched its first national ad campaign featuring a same-sex couple earlier this spring. It was a first for the U.S. banking industry, CNN Money reported at the time.

A Wells Fargo spokeswoman told the Business Journal

Diversity and Inclusion is foundational to who we are as a company, and part of our Vision & Values. Wells Fargo’s support for the LGBT community aligns with our broader commitment to diversity – to serve diverse customers, to hire, develop and retain diverse team members and to encourage team members to value and respect each other for their differences.

Our advertising content reflects our company’s values, and represents the diversity of the communities we serve.”

Alabama Minister Jailed for Trying to Marry Lesbian Couple

Alabama has handed out a prison sentence to a minister for exercising her ‘religious freedom’ and trying to marry a lesbian couple, even though state’s ban on same-sex marriage was declared unconstitutional.

Anne DiPrizio – a non-denominational minister – was sentenced to 30 days in jail and a fine of $250 after she pleaded guilty to misdemeanour disorderly conduct. The sentence was then suspended for six months.

Anne DiPrizio 02

DiPrizio was arrested on 10 February after she offered to wed a lesbian couple inside Autauga County Probate Office, where the pair had received their marriage license just a few minutes before.

Anne DiPrizio 01

But Probate Judge Al Booth had banned all marriage ceremonies in the office the day before – coincidentally the same day that gay marriage became legal in Alabama – and called the police when DiPrizio refused to leave.

Six deputies arrested DiPrizio, who they found kneeling on the floor in protest.

She spent about three hours in jail then immediately returned to continue her protest after posting bail.

After sentencing DiPrizio said

I’m glad this is over and we can put this behind us.”

Mexican Company Airs TV Advert with Lesbian Couple and their Kids

Segundamano Mexico –  an online secondhand store in Mexico – aired a television ad with lesbian couple and their children.

In the ad the women, holding their two young kids surrounded by toys and furniture, say

It was the two of us, and then we thought why not be more? So now we are four.”

An off camera voice asks them what they bought on the site and they answer beds for the children, dressers for the children, etc. The ad ends by encouraging others to follow their example and get things they need for their families on the site.

The couple in the ad are a real couple, who were married in Spain, but live in Mexico.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdmsvdba0j4

Much like the US, is a patchwork when it comes to recognising familias diversas, so is Mexico.

Antonio Medina, a Mexican journalist, will be writing about the significance of the ad in Proceso Magazine, a weekly news magazine with a wide readership.

Lesbian Couple Fulfil Dying Wish With Fairy Tale Wedding

With just weeks to live, an Australian woman has fulfilled her dying wish to marry the woman she loves.

After waiting years for gay marriage to be legalised in Australia and being left disappointed, Sandra Yates and her partner, Lee Bransden, decided to take their marriage into their own hands.

lee-and-sandra

With the help of a crowd-funding campaign, the couple flew to neighbouring New Zealand to finally complete their short-lived fairy tale.

Surrounded by ferns and flowers in the Rotorua’s beautiful Mitai Village, Sandra and Lee celebrated their wedding in a wide glade near a flowing spring, with Maori warriors blessing the marriage.

We’re blown away by all the support and friendship. All our dreams are coming true.”

lee-and-sandra-03 lee-and-sandra-05 lee-and-sandra-07 lee-and-sandra-08 lee-and-sandra-06 lee-and-sandra-09 lee-and-sandra-04

In a recent update after the wedding, new bride Ms Brandsen has announced she has just weeks to live as her lung cancer has progressed.

We wish them all the best.

 

Absolut Hosts Surprise Proposal As Part of Their #LoveIsLove Campaign

There are lots of people in this world who don’t support same-sex marriages or civil partnerships. They don’t want same-sex couples to experience the nerves leading up to the proposal itself, the way the heart shudders against the chest as the proposer waits for their partner’s reply, nor do they want them to experience the beautiful moment when they both say ‘I do’ and get married for real.

Beverage makers Absolut (of Absolut Vodka) want to change some hearts and minds, which is why they’ve put together their #LoveIsLove campaign to show people that regardless of your gender, love really is just love. It’s also why the company teamed up with lesbian filmmaker Molly Schiot to help a woman named Paige propose to her girlfriend Amanda in scenes that will absolutely make you cry.

To pull off what could possibly be the sweetest proposal of all time, Paige and the Absolut team first had to convince Amanda that her and Paige were part of a documentary about LGBT relationships. Then, they took the two of them two the beach where they had their first date, with Paige having set up a whole host of extra surprises leading up to the Big Question.

Schiot explains what it was like to work with the couple:

The proposal had to be kept secret from Amanda for the entire span of production to keep the proposal authentic. Paige and I had to have code words and met secretly to create this.  I was caught up in a very stressful web of lies but in the end when Amanda said ‘Yes,’ I could take a breath, and that night I think I slept deeper than I ever had.

These two beings are so kind and genuine and I truly believe that listening to them and seeing how supportive they are of one another, can open up minds, even if it is just a little. Paige is from a state that does not support gay marriage, so I know this piece was especially important to her.

It’s like what Ruth Bader Ginsburg said: ‘In recent years, people have said, “This is the way I am,” and others looked around, and we discovered it’s our next-door neighbour — we’re very fond of them. Or it’s our child’s best friend, or even our child. I think that as more and more people came out and said that “This is who I am,” the rest of us recognised that they are one of us.’ Ruth is right.”

Schiot also added that she too would like to warm the hearts of “non-supporters or on-the-fencers” and help them understand that love is love. Judging by the reaction to the video already and the amount of people who are talking about it, we think that Schiot and Absolut have definitely achieved their goal.

 

The Mural of a Lesbian Couple Placed on the Side of a Castle in Co Galway, Ireland

A new mural depicting two women has appeared on the side of Caherkinmonwee Castle in Co Galway, which is in private owned castle.

The artwork, in the same style as the male version painted in Dublin earlier this year.

The Dublin mural, which went up on the side of a building overnight at the start of April, was designed as a “poignant representation of same sex love in the city”. It became a focal point of the debate about same-sex marriage – with some No campaigners calling for it to be taken down. The biodegradable artwork was damaged by weather at the end of last month – although parts of it still remain in place.

ms-5

 

Wells Fargo Features a Lesbian Couple in Its First Big Campaign From BBDO

Wells Fargo has new advertising campaign out, and they’ve chosen to follow the inclusive trend of including a same-sex couple.

This is big news considering Wells Fargo is the second largest U.S. bank by number of branches

New ad features two women practicing sign language before they meet the deaf girl they plan to adopt.

wells-fargo-01

It’s unclear at the beginning of the ad why the women, individually, are learning how to sign. That becomes apparent when, together, they meet the girl, and one of the women signs, “We’re going to be your new mommies.”

wells-fargo-02

The ad, which was directed by Lance Acord and edited by Exile’s Matthew Murphy, ends with a female voice saying…

Everyone works hard for a reason. Working together, we can help you prepare financially for when two becomes three. Together we’ll go far.”

This will be the first of nine TV ads in a broader push that breaks Monday and runs throughout the year.

The adverts come from the agency BBDO and also includes social media marketing and print, outdoor, digital and radio ads.

Other TV ads tell the stories of small-business owners managing sales calls, a truck driver collecting momentos for his daughter and a retired woman taking her older friend to a hair salon.

And as in “Sign Language,” the characters are diverse. One small business, for example, is run by an Hispanic family and the retired woman is black. (Acento co-created the Hispanic ad with BBDO and BBDO, the other one.)

For Wells Fargo, the goal is to reflect the diversity of its customers and get beyond products and services to tell emotional stories that illustrate universal truths, according to chief marketing officer Jamie Moldafsky.

The ad with the lesbian couple, for instance, captures emotions that any couple feels when adopting a child.

Moldafsky acknowledged the likehood of backlash for the ad’s portrayal of a same-sex couple, but she noted that Wells Fargo is a longtime supporter of the LGBT community and, since 2009, has had a unit that specializes in financial advice for same-sex couples.

We really felt that this is a great way to both represent the notion of family and adoption—which is obviously a very important part of our community and many of our customers’ lives—and we do it in a way that felt very true to our perspective about diversity and inclusion.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxDsx8HfXEk

If This Life-affirming, Love-affirming, Family-affirming Photo Doesn’t Make You Smile, Then Nothing Will

A North Carolina lesbian couple’s photos, showing each of the partners pregnant, has all the world smiling after they were posted on Instagram.

Trading places

A photo posted by Mel Roy (@therealmelroy) on

The picture first was taken in 2014, when Vanessa Iris Roy was pregnant with the couple’s son, Jax. The second was taken in January of this year, when Melanie Roy was pregnant with their daughter Ero. That’s Jax playing at their feet.

melanie roy 02

Melanie told reporters

Vanessa and I have always said we would both like to carry. The woman’s body is incredible. The way it creates and grows another human being is amazing. We hope that our picture is that sign that some women may need to encourage them to carry a child.”

After a couple of months on Instagram, the side-by-side motherhood photos went viral. The Huffington Post reports they garnered more than 150,000 Likes on a Brazilian advocacy group’s Facebook page.

Melanie told The Huffington Post

It’s crazy to see that people were referring to my family as an inspiration. We are still in complete shock.”

Lesbian Couple Sues Utah for Legal Recognition as Child’s Parents

A married lesbian couple filed a lawsuit this week to force the Utah vital records office to recognise them as the legal parents of their child.

The ACLU of Utah and the national ACLU LGBT Project filed the complaint in U.S. District Court on behalf of Angie and Kami Roe, who seek to both be recognised as parents to their daughter, Lucy.

Under the state’s assisted reproduction law, the husband of a woman who conceives with donated sperm is automatically recognised as the child’s parent. But because Angie is Kami’s wife instead of her husband, the State Office of Vital Records and Statistics refuses to recognise Angie as Lucy’s parent, according to the ACLU.

The office told the couple that they must go through an expensive and invasive step-parent adoption process to become Lucy’s legal parents, the ACLU says. They argue in the lawsuit that the office’s refusal to recognise female spouses as parents violates their right to equal protection.

Angie Roe said in a news release.

Kami and I should not have to go through a time-consuming legal procedure to give our daughter the protection of having two legal parents. All we are asking is to be treated the same way that other married couples are already treated under state law.”

The lawsuit names Utah Department of Health executive director David Patton and vital statistics office director Richard Oborn as defendants.

According to health department spokesman Tom Hudachko…

While we have not had the opportunity to review today’s filing, we have been working for several months with both the ACLU and the plaintiffs in an attempt to reach a solution. Our hope is to resolve the issue at hand in a manner that serves the best interest of all parties,”

Leah Farrell, ACLU of Utah attorney, said in light of cases such as Kitchen v. Herbert, which make clear that Utah must extend the same rights in marriage to all couples, the state’s attempt to apply the assisted reproduction law differently for male and female spouses is untenable and harmful.

The Roes have also asked the court for a preliminary injunction requiring the vital records office to recognize Kami Roe as Lucy’s parent while the case is being argued.