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Chris Pine: Russia's Anti-Gay Law Is "Archaic," Au Bon Pain Blocks LGBT Sites: Today In Gay

chris pine jack ryanChris Pine is about as appalled as we are about Russia's treatment of its LGBT community. The star of the upcoming action thriller Jack Ryan Shadow Recruit called the law banning gay propaganda “clearly awful, archaic, hostile nonsense," in a recent interview.

“I think we should do more than just send gay Olympians there," Pine added. "What’s happening there in terms of gay rights or the lack of it is extraordinary and awful.”


Another Hollywood star making an even bigger statement before the Sochi Olympics is Ian McKellan, who joined 27 nobel laureates in an open letter to Vladimir Putin. “The letter is written to indicate that many senior members of the international scientific community show solidarity with politicians, artists, sports people and many others who have already expressed their abhorrence for the Russian government’s actions against its gay citizens,” the letter states.

In the letter McKellan—who signed it “AKA Henry V/Gandalf”—also revealed that he was advised by the UK Foreign Office he could not speak openly about his sexuality while in Russia, leading the Hobbit star to turn down invitations to appear at Russian film festivals.


Efforts have begun in New York to ban reparative or so-called "ex-gay" therapy" in the state: This week, bills were introduced in both houses  by State Assemblymember Deborah Glick and State Senators Brad Hoylman and Michael Gianaris that would protect minors from efforts to change their sexual orientation or gender expression.

“Trying to change someone’s true identity through so-called therapy is a dangerous practice that can seriously harm our LGBT youth," said Empire State Pride Agenda director Nathan M. Schaefer. "Anyone who says they can change an LGBT person from being who they are is preying off of fear and confusion to sell a practice that doesn’t work and causes lasting harm.”


[caption id="attachment_139300" align="alignleft" width="330"]au bon pain Source: Au Bon Pain on Facebook[/caption]

Good luck trying to get your gay news at Au Bon Pain. The restaurant chain allegedly blocks LGBT and reproductive services sites on its Wifi.

An attempt to visit the GLAAD website was met with the message, "This website is not allowed. This website is categorized as Sexual Orientation and is blocked as part of this networks web content filtering policy."

An Au Bon Pain rep tweeted on Monday that the company wants its cafes "to be welcoming places for everyone" and promised "we take this very seriously and want to remedy it best we can.”


Dozens of people have been arrested in Nigeria as part of a government crackdown after President Goodluck Jonathan signed a law making gay marriage, LGBT clubs and public displays same-sex affection punishable by more than a decade in prison.

Nearly 40 men have been arrested in the northern state of Bauchi alone, with suspects reportedly tortured into naming other gay people. It's also common for gay men to be entrapped and then extorted by authorities.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon issued a statement today expressing his concern about the situation: "The law may fuel prejudice and violence... [and] risks obstructing effective responses to HIV/AIDS." Ki-Moon added that "everyone is entitled to enjoy the same basic rights and live a life of worth and dignity without discrimination," a principle espoused in the UN Charter.


[caption id="" align="alignright" width="210"]Adam-Fraley-210x143 Fraley[/caption]

More than 80% of the congregation at a United Methodist Church in Alexandria walked out after choral director Adam Fraley was fired for being gay by a new minister. While homosexuals are welcome in the UMC, they may not serve in leadership positions, leading interim minister David Mantor to can Fraley.

When David Steele defended Fraley, he too was relieved of his duties. "It's almost like [Mantor] has hijacked the church," says Steele. "He is completely going against what the church body wants."

Why is it right-wingers only yammer about the will of the people when it suits their agenda?

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