Good Vibes

A range of emojis depicting same sex couples are now available on social media

ML - Russia may ban "gay emojis" from social media if an investigation by the state media watchdog rules that they infringe laws against "gay propaganda".

According to a report by Russia's Izvestia newspaper, the investigation was prompted by a complaint from Mikhail Marchenko, a Russian senator.

Mr Marchenko claims the symbols - which depict smiley-faced same-sex couples - violate a controversial 2013 law which prohibits promotion of non-traditional sexual relationships.

The law allows Russian authorities to block access to websites deemed to promote homosexuality.

Mr Marchenko said in his complaint that the emojis "promoted non-traditional sexual relationships", "denied family values" ​​and showed "disrespect for parents and other family members".

An Apple update earlier this year introduced emojis depicting gay parents

In response to the complaint, media watchdog Roskomnadzor asked the youth group of President Vladimir Putin's political party, the Young Guard, to report on the matter.

Kirill Grinchenko, a spokesman for the Young Guard, told Izvestia that the group had not yet received a request to look into the matter but was "ready to deal with the protection of rights on the Internet under Russian law".

On Tuesday the founder of Children-404, an online community for LGBT teenagers in Russia, was fined 50,000 roubles (£520; $830) after a Russian court ruled that the site was guilty of distributing "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among minors".

Russia has faced international criticism for its anti-gay laws. Individuals can be fined 4,000-5,000 roubles if they are convicted of promoting so-called non-traditional sexual relations, with much higher fines for businesses and possible jail sentences for foreigners.

Apple first added emojis depicting gay couples to its operating system back in 2012. An update earlier this year introduced emojis showing gay couples with children, and hugely increased the racial diversity among the 300 symbols available.

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ML - President Barack Obama has been using his time in Africa to advocate for the rights and dignity of LGBT people. Currently, only 21 of the 56 countries on the continent have decriminalized homosexuality, and only South Africa has legal recognition for trans people.

Obama first arrived in Kenya, where, despite warnings not to discuss LGBT issues, he said in no uncertain terms that LGBT rights are human rights. Aware of his policy of spreading acceptance and protections abroad, many anti-gay Africans have been on their guard. So when a rainbow was seen in the sky as Air Force One landed in Addis Ababa on Sunday, a number of Ethiopian commentators had meltdowns.

The above photo, posted by Ethiopia's Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, was captioned:

"President Barack Obama just landed in ‪#‎AddisAbaba‬ ‪#‎Ethiopia‬ for his three days official visit. Stunning ‪#‎Rainbow‬ on the skies of Addis as he landed."

Comments quickly turned heated, however, as people lashed out at the LGBT community. Below are a number of comments rounded up by Gay Star News:

"This rainbow is sign of God’s protection from every evil activities like obama’s government allow homosexual not sign of well come."

"So be careful mr obama to your agendas and activities for this 2 days cuz this is Ethiopia not American or Kenya."

"Don’t forget ! In Our motherland Ethiopia , the rainbow symbolizes God’s promise for mankind, not homosexuality!"

"No dirty gay marriage in our continent Africa."

"Please keep your homosexual agenda in Air Force One before u step on the holy land. Thanks."

In Ethiopia, homosexuality is illegal and punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Over the years, President Obama's administration has embraced the promotion of LGBT rights and equality abroad as a cornerstone of foreign policy. Speaking alongside Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta last week, Obama said:

“I believe in the principle of treating people equally under the law, that they are deserving of equal protection under the law, that the state should not discriminate against people based on their sexual orientation."

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MANDALUYONG - A sales lady for a popular mall in Mandaluyong was reportedly fired after calling a transgender "ma'am-sir."

The sales lady, who we'll call "Karen" as she refused to give her real name, got into a quarrel with a transgender in the popular Mandaluyong mall. The transgender, Adrian Gonzales, born male, was window shopping in the lady's footwear area when Karen called her attention.

According to Gonzales, it was in the Alexander Wang isle.

"Nag-lalakad ako, minding my own business, tapos tinawag ba naman niya (Karen) ako. 'Ma'am-sir, Alexander Wang. 50% off po.'" ("I was walking, minding my own business, then she (Karen) called for my attention. 'Ma'am-sir, Alexander Wang. 50% off.'")

"I was very offended. I've already transition from male to a female, then she'd (sic) disrespect me by calling me ma'am-sir? Where's the professionalism?" Gonzales filed a complaint against Karen who was then released from her post this afternoon after a mutual agreement with the mall.

Bystanders during the quarrel said that Gonzales immediately raised her voice at Karen and feinted slapping the security guard who was attempting to separate them from each other.

Netizens have already come in defense of Karen, who they think is the one being oppressed in the situation. One user from Twitter posted: "I don't know the entire story, but Karen seems to be the one being bullied, so I will side with her."

Gonzales, who made public comments about the mall on her Facebook account has since switched off her social network profiles including her Instagram and Twitter accounts to avoid "being bullied."

UNITED STATES - Thousands of pastors all over the United States have set themselves on fire in an attempt to sway the supreme court to ban same-sex marriage in the country again.

Field reporter Shawn Williams for Manila Link and Stacy Anthony for CNN covered the burning pastors in the east coast and west coast of the United States. Fire departments all over the country are on red alert with the police keeping watch all churches and chapels nationwide.

More on this story as it develops.

NEW ORLEANS - Star forward for the New Orleans Pelicans Anthony Davis comes out with his homosexuality after signing a 5-year $125 million contract extension with his current team.

The Pelicans #23 Anthony Davis has been highly regarded as one of the elite forwards of the NBA. He made an impact in the 2014-15 season which garnered him and the city of New Orleans much media attention for his style of play on the basketball court.

"I'm gay," Anthony Davis told the media at the Pelicans presser today. "I've been gay since high school."

The LGBT community congratulated Anthony Davis on his decision to come out publicly. "We are very proud of him and Jason Collins. They are very strong men and great representatives of our community," said one gay Pelicans fan on Twitter.

Anthony Davis told that media, "I hope my sexuality does not affect anyone's view of me [especially] the fans. New Orleans -- five more years!"

Anthony Davis averaged 24.4 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 2.9 BLKPG on 30.89 PER. He was one of the front runners for the NBA MVP race behind Stephen Curry, LeBron James and James Harden.

SYDNEY - The Australian Marriage Forum (AMF) has reacted to the US Supreme Court choice saying states can no more boycott same-sex marriage. Their president compared it to legalizing slavery.

President David van Gend labelled the decision an “historic act of social self-mutilation” and accused the West of having “moral dementia”. “Five judges in 1857 imposed the racist abomination of the Dred Scott decision on all the states of the Union,” van Gend said.
“Just as the five judges in 1857 were so degenerate as to enshrine slavery in the Constitution, so five judges today enshrine sodomy in the Constitution. The fallout for the moral culture of the US and for the education of children is incalculable.”

In 1857, the US Supreme Court ruled against Dred Scott after he endeavored to sue for his opportunity. In a 7-2 vote, the court said African American individuals were not American subjects and along these lines couldn't sue. “The Supreme Court’s slavery decision was eventually repented of and reversed, just as the homosexual ‘marriage’ decision will have to be repented of and reversed – but after how much social damage is done?” van Gend asked.

The AMF have beforehand started discussion with marriage correspondence correlations, saying the change would make another Stolen Generation. The Stolen Generation is a term for the a large number of Indigenous Australian kids who were taken from their families under government strategy from 1909 to 1970.

“In Australia, same-sex couples are free to live as they choose, but they are not free to choose a motherless or fatherless existence for a little child,” van Gend said on Saturday. “Nor are they free to impose homosexual values on our children and grandchildren in the school curriculum, which is what laws for same-sex ‘marriage’ have done overseas and would do in Australia too.”

MIAMI - Kris and Bruce Jenner's separation was finished last December. Bruce Jenner had a fatal fender bender as of late, from that point forward Kris has been covertly contacting him once more.

It has been accounted for that E! is going to make another show only for Bruce gang. Which will just concentrate on Bruce's crew. It is accepted to be the "Following Big Show" in amusement industry.

Presently the "Staying aware of the Kardashians" have high as can be rating. It is said that once Bruce Jenner's or now known as "Caitlyn Jenner" show goes on air it will crush the Kardashian's rating.

Staying aware of the Kardashians is a standout amongst the most watched Show in United States. The show's appraisals went high as can be after a mystery feature of Kim Kardashian and Ray J's was discharged.

It is accepted that the mystery feature of Kim and Ray J was discharged by Kim Kardashian's mother, Kris Jenner; as the show wasn't getting famous and they were escaping from business. Some say, sometimes individuals identified with "Kardashians" do abnormal promoting tricks to get media attention.

At present Kris need to do "anything" to get over into Bruce's life, else his new show will pound the Kardashian's ratings.

A nearby companion of Kardashian family uncovered that Kris is notwithstanding considering to get a sexual orientation reassignment with a specific end goal to spare her show. "On the off chance that Bruce Jenner (the Olympic gold medalist) can be changed into a lady and change his name to Caitlyn Jenner, why wouldn't I be able to be changed into a man."

Yet, this appears bit much..

So Kris is putting forth to get changed into a man due to her affection for Bruce? Alternately would she say she is simply attempting to get Bruce on her side so he doesn't get up and go with the spinoff show?

However, you never know – perhaps it is genuine romance behind her expectation.