GAYography

LGBTQI World News, Advocacy & Virtual Travel & Events

All the Gay News That's Fit to Link

Made possible by Ashton, the GAYographer

Good morning <<First Name>>,

Above is my favorite image of Stephen Sondheim with Leonard Bernstein - I've linked to Sondheim's last interview five days before we lost this national treasure.

If you are in DC - I hope you'll join me to support future Michigan State Rep Jason Morgan's fundraiser tonight at 6pm. You can RSVP via Facebook or using go direct to tickets here.

I'm in the thick of the Victory Fund's International LGBT Leaders Conference - enjoying reconnecting with so many people after too long!

Hope to see you soon,

Ashton

1 in 430 have died of COVID in the US - as we are at over 782,100 deaths. Stocks tumbled again yesterday as Omnicron is now in the US. And if you're on your way here, new testing requirements may change to 24 hours before departure (and Biden plans to extend the mask mandate today for travel through March). For potential clues to transmission, an Israeli doctor who tested positive for Omnicron appears to not have passed it on to dozens of people he met with - just one! Looking for a good source of COVID news? Subscribe to this Doctor!

Did you miss this? Republicans are using children and school policies as weapons against Democrats. With a combination of really non-issue, issues like trans inclusion in sports, critical race theory (CRT), queer people in schoolbooks, and mask mandates, they are politicizing races at the lowest level of government: school boards. Media matters is doing incredible analysis of media segments - especially this one in Virginia attempting to link a sexual assault with trans inclusion - and showing a network of Facebook groups attacking school boards.

You must travel to Europe, <<First Name>>? Parts are under threat! In Bulgaria, the far-right Presidential candidate was arrested for physically attacking an LGBTQ center in Sofia (see the attack here). And in Poland protests erupted around a bill that would ban Pride (and effectively peaceful assembly for queer people) - they certainly invented an enemy. In January Rémy Bonny will visit. He looks at the shadowy ties between Russia, and US groups, and very anti-LGBTQ forces Europe with Forbidden Colours.

World News

World AIDS Day bring fears - after 40 years of HIV/AIDS - that testing and services have declined sharply due to the COVID crisis.

Honduras has its first openly gay legislator.

The virulently anti-gay Hungary government voted to "include the population" on "gender propaganda" - it will hold a referendum to stop LGBTQ issues from being taught in school.

Botswana's Court of Appeals upheld the High Court's unanimous ruling that decriminalized same-sex sex.

Canada's House of Commons voted unanimously to ban "conversion therapy" yesterday.

If the US Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade - with the case currently being heard - abortion bans would likely take place in 26 states.

A Michigan teacher resigned after being told to remove Pride flag from her classroom.

Travel

Looking for a beach? Puerto Rico is beckoning LGBTQ travelers with new campaigns - and COVID cases are very low.

Nomadic Boys provide all the details if you want to visit Crete.

Travel & Leisure provides the most current update on where Americans can travel around the world - and the current advisory in each destination.

Events

DC. The best hope for Michigan, Jason Morgan is running for State Rep - and you can support him today at 6pm! Hope to see you there.

DC: Victory Fund's annual International Leaders Conference will be today through Saturday at the JW Marriott, along with the sold-out 30th Anniversary gala that Saturday night.

DC. Another Midwest political fundraiser to support the incredible Congressperson Angie Craig on Dec 7 - and hold queer representation in Minnesota. Email me if you can attend (tickets $250 - $5k).

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