#high tech embargos,  like EDA software, ccp can not bear.  joe don need threaten xili more often

Thousands of Florida Students Walkout to Protest ”˜Don’t Say Gay’ Bill


By Jacob Ogles - March 03 2022


Students across Florida have organized class walkouts on Thursday to protest the proposed “don’t say gay” bill under consideration by the Florida Legislature after an image spread on social media calling for students and schools to participate in the statewide action.

A student at Colonial High School in Orlando, Dariel Cruz Rodriguez, shared footage from a protest held at the school. In it, a female student takes to the microphone to denounce the legislation, that would limit discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation in Florida schools that aren’t deemed as “age appropriate” by the state.

“Schools are a safe space away from home, especially for LGBTQ+ students who don’t receive that kind of support at home,” she said. “Gender identity is not taboo. It’s not something we should ignore or take away from our primary schools.”

And that’s not the only place protests are occurring.

https://www.advocate.com/news/2022/3/03/...fVacYrV7sM

I think it is without question that the actions of Putin are horrendous and I wish there was something more that can be done (that wouldn't result in nuclear war) like establishing a no fly zone. So, what's the next best thing we can do? Afterall, weapons and anti-tank missiles are effective but a lot of people have been displaced, a lot of people are in need of basic things, food, water, blood, an so on.

There are many organizations that are taking donations that aren't listed here. Some information about these organizations I pulled from this article. Some of the links show information about donating with crypto currency and likewise I have no way to know the validity of the addresses listed.

Voices of Children Foundation - https://voices.org.ua/en/

Razom For Ukraine - https://razomforukraine.org/

Care.org - https://www.care.org/

Sunflower of Peace - https://www.sunflowerofpeace.com/

Come Back Alive Foundation - https://savelife.in.ua/en/donate/

If you are in the region you can donate blood, https://zaborona.com/en/how-to-help-the-...end-money/

Currently, I do not know if those of us abroad can donate blood for the efforts in Ukraine. I do know that blood can be transported overseas (it's a little bit of logistics involved) but I don't know if the American Red Cross is sending blood to Ukraine (the US is also low on blood supply according the Red Cross).

That all being said, if you have information to share please do so.

”˜It gives me joy’: the LGBT Colombians embracing visibility in town with a legacy of abuse

In a mountain town near the north coast of Colombia, three drag queens strike poses in the blazing sun. Wearing extravagant Caribbean carnival costumes, they place each high heeled step carefully to avoid puddles. Neighbours come out to take photos and cheer.

This impromptu show has unique significance in the streets of El Carmen de Bolívar, representing the remarkable resurgence of a community once brutally victimised by homophobic armed groups.

For nearly 30 years, the town and surrounding region of Montes de Maria were infamous for violence perpetrated against LGBTQ+ individuals, targeted at one time or another over the country’s long civil war by rightwing paramilitaries, leftwing guerrillas, government soldiers and the police.

In the 1990s, paramilitaries formed in response to leftist activism and insurgency throughout Colombia. They took over El Carmen de Bolívar ”“ a geographically strategic town of approximately 70,000 people with a history of leftwing activism and violently repressed those they viewed as proxy guerrilla supporters.



https://www.theguardian.com/global-devel...y-of-abuse

Namibian court rules against gay couples seeking legal recognition

Namibia's High Court on Thursday ruled against two gay couples fighting for their marriages to be recognised under domestic law, with the judge saying that while she agreedwith the couples' position, she was powerless to change the situation.

The ruling centered on the cases of partners Daniel Digashu and Johan Potgieter and a second couple, Anette Seiler-Lilles and Anita Seiler-Lilles. Digashu, a South African, and German-born Anita had applications for a work permit and permanent residency respectively denied based on their same-sex marital status.

Namibia's legal system does not recognise same-sex marriages and criminalises sexual conduct among non-heterosexual couples, though the law is seldom enforced. Both couples secured their legal partnerships outside of Namibia, where they now live together.


https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nam...022-01-20/

'I was dismissed from the Navy for being gay'

One former Royal Navy medic who was dismissed from the military for being gay in 1982 told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland that the experience left him suicidal.

Chris Ferguson, from Edinburgh, said LGBT servicemen and women were treated "disgracefully", and has called for them to receive reparations.  He said up until 1995, "we had gay men in prison for being gay".



Chris, now 61, had been in the navy as a medic for three years, and was studying with the army as well, when he was told the special investigation branch "were coming to investigate me".

"I knew immediately what it was - it was terrifying," he said.


https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-60053929

"Transit" and "Undine" star Franz Rogowski gives yet another career-topping performance as a gay man living out his life in prison in post-World War II Germany.


“Great Freedom”

In most stories, the liberation of the concentration camps is the beginning of the end of a nightmare. But Austrian film “Great Freedom” shows that the truth wasn’t as simple for everyone. In many cases, LGBTQ+ concentration camp inmates were simply transferred to prison cells.

That’s the most inhuman scandal explored in director Sebastian Meise’s Cannes Un Certain Regard winner: Germany’s Paragraph 175, a provision of a German criminal code that reigned from 1871 to (shockingly) early 1994, criminalizing all homosexual acts between men. The story is told through the eyes and heavy, wearied soul of the fictional Hans Hoffmann, who is repeatedly imprisoned over decades in post-World War II Germany for being gay. He’s played by Franz Rogowski, the muse of German director Christian Petzold (“Undine,” “Transit”) and one of the most striking actors working in European cinema and beyond.

Over the course of his imprisonment, Hans forms a deep but often volatile bond with longtime cellmate Viktor (played by fellow Austrian actor Georg Friedrich), at turns platonic, romantic, sexual, and parasitic as Hans slowly resigns himself to the belief that life won’t change and his may perhaps even be best lived out within the drab, crumbling walls of the dank prison.

Meise and co-writer Thomas Reider spoke to real men affected by the Paragraph while researching the film ”” and eventually shot it in an actual prison in eastern Germany, forgoing recreating the cells on a studio. This devastating movie is now Austria’s submission for the Best International Feature Academy Award, and last month landed on the shortlist of 15.

Rogowski’s training as a dancer shows in his physical commitment to the role ”” gaining and losing pounds across a shoot that took place before and then during the pandemic ”” while conveying his character’s broken interior through a somber, low-key, unmannered performance that suggests an actor who just shows up to set and does his job without pageantry. Meise, in our interview below for the film, confirmed that to be true.

Mubi releases the movie March 4 at NYC’s Film Forum, followed by a national expansion. Academy voters shouldn’t miss the vital “Great Freedom,” which tells a story of which not many of us ”” including even the filmmaker before he embarked on the project ”” are aware. While Paragraph 175 was repealed just over 25 years ago, the nation didn’t start owning up to its actions until just a few years ago, issuing long-overdue apologies in hopes of redressing the continuing pang of systemic national guilt.

IndieWire: What was your knowledge of Paragraph 175, in terms of the criminalization of homosexuality in Germany?

Sebastian Meise: Actually, I didn’t know so much about it. We came across these reports of gay men who were liberated from concentration camps and directly put into prison by the Allies, or put into prisons to serve their remaining sentences. We read that ”” it was an article in some book about being gay in Hamburg ”” and I couldn’t really believe it. It sounded so bizarre. I discovered I have more knowledge about the queer history of the United States. I knew about the Stonewall riots. I was not aware of the dimension of the persecution. I did not know that there was a Paragraph like this. It was just not in our consciousness, in Austria and Germany. We never heard about this in school. I talked about this with the older generation, like with my father, for example. He didn’t know anything about it, and he grew up at this time. We talked about this with a younger generation of gay people; they also had no knowledge. So we started researching, and the story grew more and more.



The story is fictional, but you did talk to a lot of actual people in the process. How did you find these individuals?

There’s a gay museum in Berlin, the Archive of the Memory. They conducted a series of interviews with people with personal experience. So we met these people. What we did in Vienna, there’s an old gay café, and there’s always some older gay couples sitting in the back. We just went to them and talked to them. It turned out that everyone had experience with law enforcement back in the ”˜60s. There was one very moving situation where one man, he was there with his long-life partner, he never told his partner he was in prison back in the ”˜60s. It was such a taboo for them because in Austria and Germany, the state never acknowledged the fact that [being gay] had been a crime.

Since this wasn’t abolished until the mid-1990s, what do you feel is the position toward the Paragraph is in Germany now?

Many things have changed in terms of LGBT rights, of course, but it was only 2017 that they took the first steps concerning apologies and things like this. In Austria, it was only this year that the Minister of Justice made an apology and declared officially that this was against human rights.

You shot the film before and during the pandemic, in an actual prison. Tell me about that atmosphere as a filmmaker where the actors are sharing a real cell, they’re sleeping in their cells, they’re smoking in their cells, just as you see in the movie.

There was a big discussion if we should shoot the cells in a studio, and I am not so much a fan of studio work because it’s just clean, and shooting in a real location does something to the atmosphere. Of course, it was a film set. It was an empty prison, and we decorated it and painted the walls and all that. It was cold. It was not easy to shoot. We had to bring the lights up. The real place did something to the team, and this is what I like about filmmaking: to have an anchor in reality somehow.


“Great Freedom”

How did you come to cast Franz Rogowski? We know him from the films of Christian Petzold and Michael Haneke. It sounds like you had him in mind writing it.

Halfway through the script, you see this film is going to happen one day probably, and you start to think about the cast. As a couple, [Franz Rogowski and Georg Friedrich] were in my mind immediately”¦ We were writing the characters for them, without knowing if they would even take the parts. But they did. Thank god. They came quite late, but there was space to improvise. Not too much, because it was a tight schedule, but we tried to give them places where they can find themselves or find the relationship.

The film tracks Hans’ persecution over the decades, as he is repeatedly sent back to prison for “deviant practices.”

This came quite early in the writing process because we were looking to translate the life he is in. I always said this is a story about two people who are stigmatized for life. Hans cannot change himself. The minute he walks out of prison, he is persecuted again. We were trying to find a way to translate this. He’s trapped in a time loop, somehow. This chronological way of telling the story we thought could be the best [approach].


“Great Freedom”

The way the film moves between time periods is fluid and seamless. Were there subtle modulations Franz would do in his performance, whether between the ”˜40s, ”˜50s, or ”˜60s, to mark the passage of time or a world-weariness taking hold?

It’s really subtle, but he lost like 12 kilos, in shooting from one era to another. It’s not too obvious, but we were trying to find a way that makes it real somehow in addition to all the makeup stuff, which is always fake somehow. We were trying to find a way that, every time we come into another time with him, he’s in a completely different stage of his life. He has a completely different energy. In the ”˜40s, he’s more like this animal, full of fear. In the ”˜50s, he’s full of energy, and in the ”˜60s, he’s more or less calmed down, and not believing that things will ever change.

He seems like the kind of actor who just shows up to set and is effortless about his approach. He doesn’t seem like he’s doing a lot of method or obsession between takes. What is his style?

He likes to talk a lot. He’s completely contrary to Georg. The great thing about [Franz], what I really love about him, he always tries to find a way not to act ”” but just be the character.

...suggesting same-sex attraction has a biological basis!

New research shows having a greater number of older brothers increases the probability of a person entering a same-sex union at some point in their lives.

This finding, detailed in our paper published today in the Journal of Sex Research, offers a rare insight into the origins of sexual orientation.

The origins of sexual orientation
In recent decades, many countries have achieved remarkable progress towards equal treatment of LGBT people, including greater public support and more protective legislation. But despite these encouraging developments, sexual minorities still experience high levels of stigma ”“ and the origins of sexual orientation remain a matter of debate.

A growing body of research is attempting to shed light on why some people experience same-sex sexual attraction and others don’t. These studies have substantial implications for public opinion and debate, and subsequently the treatment of LGBT people.

For example, we know people who view sexual orientation as a product of biological factors (such as hormones or genetics) are more likely to support sexual minorities and their civil rights, compared to those who view it as a product of social factors or individual choice.

The fraternal birth order effect
The “fraternal birth order effect” is one of the most well-documented patterns supporting a biological origin of human sexual orientation. This longstanding hypothesis proposes men’s propensity for homosexuality increases with the number of older biological brothers they have.

This effect has been attributed to a mother’s immune reaction to proteins produced by a male foetus. The proteins enter the mother’s bloodstream and trigger the production of antibodies that influence the sexual development of subsequent children.

These maternal antibodies accumulate over successive pregnancies with male foetuses, which means men with more older brothers are more likely to experience same-sex sexual attraction.

However, previous research documenting the fraternal birth order effect has relied on small and selective participant samples, which has led some scholars to question the authenticity of the phenomenon. Indeed, no study of a representative population sample has supported its existence ”“ until now.

Our research
Our research used unique data from Dutch population registers. These data allowed us to follow the life trajectories of more than nine million people born between 1940 and 1990.

In previous studies we used this dataset to examine whether the gender of a married couple’s children affected the stability of their union, and to compare the academic performance of children raised by same- and different-sex couples. This time, we used it to provide a robust test of the fraternal birth order effect.

While the data did not contain direct measures of individuals’ sexual orientation, they did indicate whether they ever entered a same-sex marriage or registered partnership. We used this information as a proxy for homosexuality.

In the Netherlands, registered same-sex partnerships have been recognised since 1998, and same-sex marriage since 2001.

What we found
Our results show clear evidence of a fraternal birth order effect on homosexuality. Specifically, men with one older brother are 12% more likely to enter a same-sex union than men with one older sister, and 21% more likely than men with just one younger brother or sister.

The birth order and total number of siblings matter too. Men who are the youngest sibling are more likely to enter a same-sex union than men who are the oldest sibling, and the differences grow larger as the total number of siblings increases.

For example, the probability of a man entering a same-sex union is 41% greater if he has three older brothers, as opposed to three older sisters, and 80% greater than if he has three younger brothers.

The chart below illustrates some of our findings, showing the number of men who entered same-sex unions among those with up to three siblings. The sex of older siblings wields a considerable influence over same-sex union formation. On the other hand, the sex of younger siblings plays little to no role.


Data cover men born in the Netherlands between 1940 and 1990. The underlying statistical model accounts for birth year differences. This rules out the possibility that our results are due to age differences between the groups. Whiskers denote 95% confidence intervals. Author provided

Unlike earlier studies which focused almost exclusively on men, we documented the same pattern of results among women. We found women are also more likely to enter a same-sex union if they have older brothers.

This finding yields tentative support to arguments that maternal antibodies and foetal proteins also interact to influence womens’ sexual development.

What does it all mean?
Our results tell a clear and consistent story: the number and sex of one’s siblings play an important role in the development of their sexuality.

This evidence aligns squarely with perspectives that emphasise sexual orientation as an innate trait and a reflection of a person’s true self, rather than a product of “lifestyle choices” or a “fashion trend” as some suggest.

Of course, in an ideal society, the rights and respect people are afforded should not depend on whether their sexual identity is “innate” or “a choice”. But unfortunately, these issues still loom large in contemporary debate, further highlighting the importance of our findings.

A biological basis for human sexuality suggests harmful practices like conversion therapy can’t alter someone’s sexual orientation. It also discredits claims homosexuality can be “taught” (such as through sexual diversity education at schools) or “passed on” (such as through same-sex couples adopting children).

We acknowledge the diverging opinions on the value of research concerning the origins of human sexuality. Some feel such research is irrelevant because the findings should have no bearing on public attitudes or legislation, while others reject it for more hostile reasons.

Like others before us, we consider this research essential. Understanding the mechanisms behind sexual orientation can offer insights into what makes people who they are, and helps normalise the full spectrum of human sexual diversity.

Pride in Seoul, South Korea

One of South Korea’s top courts dismissed a landmark lawsuit that sought to bolster LGBT+ rights by enshrining equal access to healthcare benefits.

The Seoul Administrative Court on Friday (7 January) shrugged off the suit brought forward by So Seong-wook, 30, against the country’s National Health Insurance Service (NHIS).

Filed last year, the service withdrew Seong-wook’s ability to receive spousal benefits under the employer of his partner, Kim Yong-min.

Yong-min had initially been able to register his partner in early 2020 as an independent, which activists say might have been the first example of this in the country.

But months later, the National Health Insurance Service yanked the coverage away following media coverage, United Press International reported.

In a judgement that captures the frustration felt by countless queer South Koreans, the court passed on an opportunity to bolster the rights of LGBT+ people.

It said that it had no legal basis to change the definition of marriage ”“ a move needed to restore the couple’s coverage.

“The union of a man and woman is still considered the fundamental element of marriage, according to civil law, precedents of the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court and the general perception of society,” the judgment read.

While they aren’t legally married, given that marriage equality is not recognised in South Korea, the plaintiffs had argued in the courts that the NHIS often recognises non-married citizens as common-law spouses.

The court, however, disagreed. “Under the current legal system, it is difficult to evaluate the relationship between two people of the same-sex as a common-law relationship,” the judgement added.


LGBT Group members performance with marching parade during an LGBT rally near square in Seoul, South Korea, on 16 July 2017

“Even though the court has left it as a matter of the legislative branch, we will continue to fight until the day our relationship is recognised, Yong-min told reporters, adding that he plans to appeal.

“I believe that love will eventually win.”

As much as LGBT+ South Koreans have made gains in recent years, their growing visibility has touched off opposition from powerful conservative Christian groups, often scuttling proposed pro-LGBT+ laws in the process.

South Korea does not ban homosexuality, but their rights are relatively threadbare.

There are little to no discrimination protections nor recognition of same-sex relationships, razor-thin adoption rights and no ban on conversion therapy.

The nation’s sluggishness in uplifting LGBT+ rights has taken a deep toll on young queer people, activists warned last year.

“Even as domestic public opinion warms to LGBT rights and neighbouring governments take steps toward LGBT equality, however, South Korea’s government has failed to make meaningful progress, citing intense religious and conservative opposition to justify inaction,” Human Rights Watch wrote in a report.

“Korea is falling behind regarding other LGBTI-inclusive laws such as legal provisions explicitly protecting LGBTI individuals against discrimination and violence, or laws addressing the unique challenges faced by same-sex couples.”

Sue Radford has revealed that she is “incredibly proud” of her son Luke, following his decision to come out as gay on 22 Kids and Counting.

The 21-year-old son of Sue and husband Noel is set to open up about his sexuality on their Channel 5 show.

Ahead of the scene, Sue has shared her pride over the “emotional” episode.

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