A South Carolina man who has been forced to register as a sex offender for having consensual gay sex has launched a legal challenge against the state.

The man, identified as “John Doe”, was convicted under South Carolina’s anti-sodomy or “buggery” law in 2001, according to the Post and Courier.

The Lawrence v Texas Supreme Court ruling in 2003 invalidated all remaining sodomy laws across the US, but many states, including South Carolina, still have the defunct laws on their books.

Doe was pardoned for his “crime” in 2006 but is still required to register as a sex offender, according to a lawsuit which names state attorney general Alan Wilson and chief of South Carolina law enforcement Mark Keel as defendants.

The lawsuit states: “He suffers severely under the sex offender label, which involves the state in the daily management of his life.”

It explains that Doe must report twice a year in person to register as a sex offender, providing a “encyclopedic” amount of personal information before being listed on a publicly available database, and failure to register can result in fines and prison time.

“As a result of defendants’ unlawful conduct, Doe is suffering harm, including embarrassment, humiliation, shame, fear, loss of opportunity (including, but not limited to, career, professional, economic, housing, educational, and social opportunities), and stigma,” the lawsuit adds.

Two other states impose sex offender registration for people convicted under sodomy laws ”“ Mississippi and Idaho ”“ and according to the lawsuit, there are currently at least 18 other people required to register as sex offenders because of prosecutions under South Carolina’s buggery law.

Doe is demanding that not only is he removed from the sex offender register, but that all others in the state are no longer required to register under the outdated and discriminatory policy.

The federal complaint was filed on Doe’s behalf in the US District Court of South Carolina on 22 December by attorneys Matthew Strugar and Allen Chaney.

'Even though Betty was about to be 100, I thought she would live forever,' says her agent and close friend Jeff Witjas.

An icon of stage and screen, most known for starring inThe Mary Tyler Moore Show, and later The Golden Girls on NBC, has died, just weeks before celebrating her 100th birthday on January 17, 2022.

Citing law enforcement sources, TMZ reported Betty Marion White passed away at her home Friday morning.

"Even though Betty was about to be 100, I thought she would live forever," her agent and close friend Jeff Witjas told PEOPLE on Friday afternoon. "I will miss her terribly and so will the animal world that she loved so much. I don't think Betty ever feared passing because she always wanted to be with her most beloved husband Allen Ludden. She believed she would be with him again."

White played the role of Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls from 1985 to 1992 and reprised in a one-season sitcom spinoff called Golden Palace. She later starred in the TV Land sitcom Hot in Cleveland.

The beloved comedic actress said the key to long life included “having a sense of humor.” And when explaining her status as a gay icon, White said, "Gays love old ladies."

White was an ally of the LGBTQ community, speaking up for gay rights, marriage equality and for lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender youth throughout her longstanding career.

"I don't care who anybody sleeps with," she told Parade magazine in 2010. "If a couple has been together all that time - and there are gay relationships that are more solid than some heterosexual ones - I think it's fine if they want to get married. I don't know how people can get so anti-something. Mind your own business, take care of your affairs, and don't worry about other people so much."

She was also an animal-rights activist all her life. 

The eight-time Emmy Award-winner was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1995.

Born in Oak Park, Illinois, in 1922, White began her career in 1939.

She was married twice, both times briefly, in the late 1940s. White and Ludden remained married until his death in 1983.

10 top international LGBTQ+ news stories of 2021

December 31, 2021 By  Michael K. Lavers

The Biden administration’s pledge to champion LGBTQ rights abroad was the dominant international story in 2021, but anti-LGBTQ crackdowns and efforts to expand rights also made headlines around the world over the past year. Here are the top 10 international stories of 2021.


https://www.losangelesblade.com/2021/12/...s-of-2021/

Rob Brydon has revealed that he believes his most famous character might have been gay.

The Welshman starred as the much-loved Bryn West in the hit series Gavin and Stacey for over a decade.

But while not much is known about the eccentric uncle's background, Brydon has now opened upon about his thoughts on the character's sexuality.

Speaking on the 'Table Manners' podcast, the 56-year-old said that he wouldn't be surprised if Bryn was gay.

He said: "There's a part of me that doesn't want to say anything, because I think it should be in the mind of the audience.

"But it's not ambiguous, is it? I mean, I'd be surprised if Bryn wasn't gay. But I wonder if he's just never acted on it?

"They've [the show's producers] never said to me [if he was gay or not] - it's just what's there in the script.


Rob Brydon says he thinks Uncle Bryn was gay.

"But, I mean, the way he gazes at Larry Lamb, at Mick, though he's a lovely looking boy..."

Brydon said, though, that it's all about interpretation and what they see in Bryn is up to the fans.

He added: "I think it's for the audience to decide for themselves."

Aside from his sexuality, one aspect of Uncle Bryn's life that has had viewers scratching their heads ever since it was first mentioned in the series is, of course, the infamous 'fishing trip' with Jason.

What really happened?

Well, even though the show has wrapped up a few loose ends since it finished, the answer has never been revealed.

Speaking about the mystery earlier this year, Brydon said even he wasn't certain.


What happened with Bryn and Jason on THAT trip?

The actor told a huge crowd at a Carfest at Laverstoke Park Farm in Hampshire: "That bloody fishing trip, it haunt me."

He continued: "Look, I don't know.

"All I know are the clues that were in the show.

"It was very cold, it defied gravity, and it's legal in some countries."

Thanks for that, Rob.

Not even the stars of the show portraying the characters know what writers James Corden and Ruth Jones had in mind.

Some have suggested that the plan was eventually to reveal what went on, but that they decided it was better to keep it as a mystery.


Uncle Bryn is one of the best-loved characters in the BBC comedy.

However, others have said that there was never any plan to reveal what took place between Bryn and Jason.

One said: "I'm pretty sure that even the cast don't know, that's the whole joke is that nobody knows."

Another said: "For those saying they don't know, Ruth [Jones] wrote it and was meant to reveal it in series two but she decided it was better to leave everyone questioning."

I wonder if we'll ever know. Maybe it's best we don't.

Gay Pride Barcelona

Barcelona has won a highly-rated title as the best gay tourism destination outside the United States in this year’s Gay Travel Awards, as recognition of its work in promoting LGBT tourism.

The Gay Travel Awards are widely regarded as the most important awards given to global LGBT tourism initiatives and have been called the Oscars of gay tourism by the Wall Street Journal. Every year they give out their awards to destinations that have made it through their first filter into the finals of the competition and shown themselves to be the best of the best in their categories.

Thousands are present in the first round and are then filtered into hundreds of finalists. Nominees are chosen based on audience recommendations on GayTravel.com and GayTravelAwards.com. Different editors, experts and tens of thousands of public voters have then selected 34 winners in 33 different categories. According to the director of Turisme de Barcelona, Marian Muro, “Barcelona is proud to have been chosen as the non-American destination that best promotes and supports LGBT + tourism. An award that, in short, recognizes the city’s open spirit, inclusiveness and hospitality.”


The award has come after a long programme by Turisme de Barcelona, aiming to define the city as a benchmark in the defence of diversity and the rights of LGBT people. This year alone they have organised several actions to continue promoting the best gay tourism in the city. La Vanguardia reports that the consortium participates in different forums and competitions such as Pride or the IGLTA (International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association) Convention, which is held annually in different cities around the world and brings together agents and suppliers specialized in this sector from more than 80 countries.

As well as working to make Barcelona a welcoming place, the award can help with the economy of the area also. According to an IGLTA study, LGBT people travel three times more than heterosexuals, with a longer stay at the destination and an average spend that is three times higher. Spain receives six million tourists from the LGBT + group who spend proportionally 40% more than the rest.

Norway's When Harry met Santa advert

Christmas ads have become an annual tradition, often appearing as mini-films with their own festive story. But one Norwegian commercial, featuring Father Christmas kissing a man waiting for him at home on Christmas Eve, has become a surprise hit.

In When Harry meets Santa, the four-minute ad by Norway's state-run Posten postal service, the man is seen writing Father Christmas a letter to the North Pole with the message: "All I want for Christmas is you." And he gets his wish.

"We wanted to celebrate the 50-year anniversary since the abolition of a law prohibiting same-sex relationships," says Monica Solberg, Posten's marketing director. The ad has been watched well over two million times online.

"The magnitude of response took us a bit by surprise. We expected a reaction, but not to such an extent."

The ad raised few eyebrows in Norway or in neighbouring Nordic countries, but it has prompted some discussion beyond. As well as praise there has been criticism, with claims that it sexualised Father Christmas or that it showed Santa cheating on Mrs Claus.

In many parts of the world, the idea of a gay Christmas romance would be controversial. A survey on Thursday suggested many in the UK considered a gay Father Christmas "unacceptable" although there was a clear divide in age groups.

Not sure if anyone else saw this but I found out earlier this week, his partner looks cute af



Apparently they've been dating for a while and are now engaged. 

Kal's story

I loved his IG post!

Cavallo Out!

   

What are your guys' opinions on mandating the shot? I'm un-vaxxed, but I think if you want it you should be able to get it, and if you don't it shouldnt be forced. Saw some low-brow Youtuber screaming everyone should be made to take the shot, by absolute force, regardless of any civil rights or whatever. Obviously thats an extremist nut-job stance, but I'm curious as to your guys' opinions. 

My reason? I have a few, but mainly I just have a very healthy distrust for the government.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-58849024