JORDAN

BEIRUT, Lebanon – The government of Jordanian King Abdullah have systematically targeted lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights activists and coordinated an unlawful crackdown on free expression and assembly around gender and sexuality, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report released earlier this month.

In its December 4 report, HRW documented cases in which the Kingdom of Jordan’s General Intelligence Department (GID) and the Preventive Security department of the Public Security Directorate interrogated LGBT activists about their work, and intimidated them with threats of violence, arrest, and prosecution, forcing several activists to shut down their organizations, discontinue their activities, and in some cases, flee the country.

Government officials also smeared LGBT rights activists online based on their sexual orientation, and social media users posted photos of LGBT rights activists with messages inciting violence against them.

“Jordanian authorities have launched a coordinated attack against LGBT rights activists, aimed at eradicating any discussion around gender and sexuality from the public and private spheres,” said Rasha Younes, senior LGBT rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Security forces’ intimidation tactics and unlawful interference in LGBT organizing have driven activism further underground and forced civil society leaders into an impossible reality: severe self-censorship or fleeing Jordan.”

Three activists said the Amman governor interrogated them after they preemptively cancelled the screening of a film depicting gay men. Two LGBT organization directors said that because of official intimidation, they were forced to close their offices, discontinue their operations in Jordan, and flee the country.

One activist said Preventive Security officers made him sign a pledge that he would report all his venue’s activities to the governor. Another activist reported being targeted online while social media users called for him to be burned alive.

One of the few LGBT rights activists who has remained in Jordan described her current reality: “Merely existing in Amman has become terrifying. We cannot continue our work as activists, and we are forced to be hyperaware of our surroundings as individuals.”

More recently, in October 2023, an LGBT rights activist said he was summoned for investigation by the intelligence agency. During the interrogation, the activist said intelligence officers searched his phone, intimidated him, and threatened him with a travel ban, while asking personal questions about his sexual orientation and sexual relations with other men. After three hours of questioning, the activist said the officers told him he could leave.

“They [Jordanian authorities] invest in intimidation to destroy our minds and isolate us,” the activist said. “Their tactic is to target us mentally, leaving no evidence of our torment behind.”

Jordan’s constitution protects the rights to nondiscrimination (article 6), the right to personal freedom (article 7), and the right to freedom of expression and opinion (article 15).

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Jordan is a state party, provides that everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression, assembly, and association. The ICCPR, in its articles 2 and 26, guarantees fundamental human rights and equal protection of the law without discrimination.

The United Nations Human Rights Committee, which interprets the covenant, has made clear that discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is prohibited in upholding any of the rights protected by the treaty, including freedom of expression, assembly, and association.

FRANCE

PARIS, France – Legislation that was introduced last month by the openly gay Socialist Senator Hussein Bourgi to acknowledge the French state’s responsibility in the criminalization and persecution of homosexuals between 1945 and 1982 was adopted.

However, the section of bill that called for compensation of the victims of French homophobic laws, in effect during that period by offering them a lump sum of €10,000 Euros [10,752.75 USD], was not approved.

Speaking with various French media outlets, Bourgi, who authored the bill, said: “It is high time to bring justice to the living victims of legislation which served as the basis for a politics of repression with brutal and punishing social, professional and familial consequences.”

Agence France-Presse reported:

Bourgi’s text focuses on a 40-year period following the introduction of legislation that specifically targeted homosexuals under the Nazi-allied Vichy regime. The 1942 law, which was not repealed after the liberation of France, introduced a discriminatory distinction in the age of consent for heterosexual and homosexual sex, setting the former at 13 (raised to 15 at the Liberation) and the latter at 21.

Some 10,000 people – almost exclusively men, most of them working-class – were convicted under the law until its repeal in 1982, according to research by sociologists Régis Schlagdenhauffen and Jérémie Gauthier. More than 90% were sentenced to jail. An estimated 50,000 more were convicted under a separate “public indecency” law that was amended in 1960 to introduce an aggravating factor for homosexuals and double the penalty. 

“People tend to think France was protective of gay people compared to, say, Germany or the UK. But when you look at the figures you get a very different picture,” said Schlagdenhaufen, who teaches at the EHESS institute in Paris. 

“France was not this cradle of human rights we like to think of,” he added. “The Revolution tried to decriminalise homosexuality, but subsequent regimes found other stratagems to repress gay people. This repression was enshrined in law in 1942 and even more so in 1960.” 

The legislation won the backing of Éric Dupond-Moretti, Minister of Justice for the government of President Emmanuel Macron. However, Dupond-Moretti agreed with the removal of the compensation provision by the right-wing and center senatorial majority. Dupond-Moretti justified this choice noting concerns over “legal difficulties,” telling French magazine Le Monde that “putting into practice” of this compensation measure “appears extremely complex” due to the difficulty of providing proof of an old conviction and its execution.

The Justice Minister added “It was not the law which was responsible for this harm” but “French society, homophobic in all its components at the time” adding, “This is not the fault of the Republic. The law of memory is enough.”

The bill must now be taken up by the lower house, the National Assembly, to be passed and then adopted.

SCOTLAND

EDINBURGH, UK – The Court of Session in Edinburgh has ruled that the UK government of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak acted within the law by invoking Section 35, which blocked the measure passed by the Scottish Parliament, that would have make it easier for transgender people to change their legally-recognized sex on documents.

The actions by Scottish Secretary Alister Jack, with Prime Minister Sunak’s backing kept the act from receiving the signature of King Charles III and becoming law.

The Gender Recognition Reform bill was introduced by the Scottish government to Holyrood (parliament) in the Spring of 2022 was passed in a final 86-39 vote days before Christmas of 2022. The sweeping reform bill modifies the Gender Recognition Act, signed into law in 2004, by allowing transgender Scots to gain legal recognition without the need for a medical diagnosis.

The measure further stipulates that age limit for legal recognition is lowered to 16.

In a statement released in January of this year, Jack said:

“After thorough and careful consideration of all the relevant advice and the policy implications, I am concerned that this legislation would have an adverse impact on the operation of Great Britain-wide equalities legislation. 

“Transgender people who are going through the process to change their legal sex deserve our respect, support and understanding. My decision today is about the legislation’s consequences for the operation of GB-wide equalities protections and other reserved matters. 

“I have not taken this decision lightly. The Bill would have a significant impact on, amongst other things, GB-wide equalities matters in Scotland, England and Wales. I have concluded, therefore, that this is the necessary and correct course of action.”

The Scottish government sued Westminster in the Court of Session, Scotland’s highest civil court, arguing that Jack did not have “reasonable grounds” to block the bill. The BBC reported that in her ruling for the UK governments, Judge Lady Haldane dismissed the Scottish government’s appeal and said the block on the legislation was lawful.

Judge Haldance noted that Jack followed correct legal procedures when he made his decision to invoke section 35 and that the Scottish government had failed to show that he had made legal errors.

The judge wrote: “I cannot conclude that he (Mr Jack) failed in his duty to take such steps as were reasonable in all the circumstances to acquaint himself with material sufficient to permit him to reach the decision that he did.”

Lady Haldane also said that “Section 35 does not, in and of itself, impact on the separation of powers or other fundamental constitutional principle. Rather it is itself part of the constitutional framework.”

Stonewall UK, the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ advocacy group expressed its disappointment with Judge Haldane’s ruling in a statement released this past week:

“We’re disappointed that the Court of Session in Scotland has found in favour of the UK Government’s unprecedented decision to use Section 35 to block the Gender Recognition Reform Bill from Royal Assent. This Bill was one of the most debated in the Scottish Parliament’s history and was passed by a resounding majority of MSPs drawn from all major Scottish parties.

This unfortunately means more uncertainty for trans people in Scotland, who will now be waiting once again, to see whether they will be able to have their gender legally recognised through a process that is in line with leading nations like Ireland, Canada and New Zealand.

Whatever happens next in discussions with the UK and Scottish Governments on this matter, Stonewall will continue to press all administrations to make progress on LGBTQ+ rights in line with leading international practice.”

BRITAIN

WESTMINSTER, UK – Anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric used by British Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch during her speech on the floor of the House of Commons on Dec. 6, prompted Labour MP Sir Chris Bryant, an openly gay lawmaker, to rise in opposition and declare her speech left him feeling unsafe. 

The debate was triggered by the Equalities Minister claiming that the UK does not recognize self-ID from overseas countries for trans people, PinkNewsUK reported. In his retort to her statements, Bryant explained: “I feel, as a gay man, less safe than I did three years or five years ago.”

PinkNewsUK also noted that Bryant said: “Why? Sometimes because of the rhetoric that is used, including by herself [Badenoch] in the public debate.” He added that some MPs had cheered for Badenoch’s statements on the trans community, and for statements against gender-affirming care for trans people, which could lead to LGBTQ+ people feeling even less safe in the UK. 

“Many of us feel less safe today, and when people over there cheer as they just did, it chills me to the bone, it genuinely does,” Bryant said. 

She hit back with force, challenging him to identify which words precisely were so problematic. She later criticized the attempts of trans activists to use emotional blackmail to try to shut down debate.

The UK Government has updated the list of countries from which gender-certificates will be accepted.

Replying to Bryant, Badenoch said: “He says that my rhetoric chills him to the bone. I would be really keen to hear exactly what it is I have said in this statement or previously that is so chilling.” She added that the current Tory government had done work on “our HIV action plan” and “around trans healthcare”, as well as “establishing five new community-based clinics for adults in the country.”

“There is a lot that we are doing, so it is wrong to characterise us as not caring about LGBT people,” she said. 

Bryant’s colleague, Sir Ben Bradshaw, also failed to get the better of Badenoch. He complained the UK had recently fallen in a set of international rankings on LGBTQ rights. She calmly pointed out that those rankings reward states that adopt the Stonewall-supported policy of self-ID and punish those who do not. To cheers from the Tory benches, she declared ‘Stonewall does not decide the law in this country,’ referring to Stonewall UK, the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ advocacy group.

Additional reporting from Human Rights Watch, Agence France-Presse, Le Monde, The BBC and PinkNewsUK.

SACRAMENTO – Building on California’s commitment to provide civilians in Israel and Gaza with medical aid and assistance, Governor Gavin Newsom announced this past week that the state’s humanitarian aid package — 104 pallets of medical supplies, including field hospitals — has been delivered to both Israel and Gaza.

The two nearly identical shipments of supplies each include a 50-bed field hospital, support equipment, wound and IV kits, defibrillators, wheelchairs, personal protective equipment, and other emergency-response items.

The two shipments of humanitarian supplies were delivered through close coordination with nonprofit and government partners. The shipment to Israel arrived last month following coordination with Direct Relief — a California-based humanitarian aid organization — the Israeli Health Ministry, and IsraAID.

The supplies to civilians in Gaza arrived earlier this week through coordination with Direct Relief. The delivery of supplies to Gaza was dependent on the opening of a reliable humanitarian corridor for aid, which occurred during the temporary cease-fire negotiated by the Biden-Harris Administration.

Amid heightened fears and concerns stemming from the conflict, Governor Newsom previously authorized the immediate expansion of funds to bolster the safety and security at religious institutions, places of worship, and faith-based institutions across the state and called on California’s university systems to take further steps to protect student safety.

The supplies delivered to the region are deemed surplus and do not impact the state’s ability to rapidly respond to any disasters that may occur in the state, the governor’s office noted in a press release.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Beverly Hills detectives have arrested a 44-year-old Los Angeles man and charged him in a racially motivated attack and attempted robbery on an elderly Jewish couple Saturday morning in the city.

In a statement released by Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) spokesperson Lieutenant Reginald Evans: On Saturday, December 9, 2023, at approximately 9:03 a.m., BHPD patrol units
responded to the area of North Rexford Drive and North Santa Monica Blvd regarding a reported assault with a deadly weapon.

Officers responded quickly and located an elderly victim who had sustained a laceration
on his head after being struck with a belt. During the commission of the crime, the suspect made anti-Semitic statements to the victim. The victim was accompanied by his spouse during the time of the crime.

According to the BHPD, the male victim was treated by the Beverly Hills Fire Department at the scene and did not require further medical attention and was not transported to hospital.

BHPD personnel searched the immediate area as the suspect had fled the scene prior to police arrival. An individual matching the suspect description was witnessed fleeing by a BHPD Senior Forensic Specialist. Officers used the information provided to quickly find, detain, and identify the suspect.

“Our officers quickly apprehended the suspect and he is in custody,” said Beverly Hills Police Chief Mark Stainbrook. “This despicable act of hate against a member of our community will not be tolerated.”

BHPD arrested Jarris Jay Silagi, a 44 year old male resident of Los Angeles and charged him with four felonies including Assault with a Deadly Weapon; Attempted Robbery; Hate Crime
and Elder Abuse. Silagi is being held on $100,000.00 bail and is currently in-custody at the Los Angeles County Jail.

According to the Beverly Hills Police, he has an initial court date of Dec. 12, at the Los Angeles Airport Criminal Court. There is an ongoing investigation by the Beverly Hills Police Department Detective Bureau.

A man claiming to be the victim’s son posted on X, formerly Twitter, that his parents were on their way to shul — the Yiddish word for synagogue — when the attack was carried out.

Included in the post was a picture of a bloody shirt allegedly belonging to the victim.

Here is #antisemitism vignette you won’t read about in papers. Yesterday, on way to shul, my father (75) and mother (70) were attacked. After being struck from behind on head by belt and called out as Jew, my father recomposed himself and successfully chased down perp with help… pic.twitter.com/p8ibGwpdxp

— Alan Tzvika Nissel (@atnissel) December 10, 2023

Anyone with information about this crime is urged to call the Beverly Hills Police Department at 310-285-2125. Anonymous reports can be made by texting TIP BHPDALERT followed by the tip information to 888777.

You can also call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477. To access Crime Stoppers, download the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP or use the website http://www.lacrimestoppers.org.

WASHINGTON – In his first TV interview since announcing his retirement from Congress, Republican Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted from his position as Speaker of the House in October, talks with CBS News chief election & campaign correspondent Robert Costa about leading an unruly House and losing his speakership; his thoughts about Florida Representative Matt Gaetz; his predictions for the 2024 elections; and the future he sees as part of a prospective Trump cabinet.

LOS ANGELES – A disconcerting surge in hate crimes, as revealed by the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission’s 2022 Report on Hate Crime, is posing a severe threat to the safety and well-being of minority communities in greater Los Angeles. Released on Nov. 29, the report disclosed alarming statistics, indicating the highest level of reported hate crimes in 21 years.

According to the report, hate crimes surged by 18% in 2022, reaching 929 reported incidents, the highest since 2001. This uptick reflects an ongoing trend, with hate crimes escalating by 143% since 2013, signaling a deeply concerning trajectory for the city.

The press conference, attended by influential figures such as Supervisor Hilda Solis, District Attorney George Gascón, Sheriff Robert Luna, LAPD Assistant Chief Blake Chow, Human Relations Commission President Ilan Davidson, and Executive Director Robin Toma, underscored the gravity of the situation.

Black residents experienced a higher rate of hate crimes, witnessing an increase from 219 to 294 incidents, marking the second-largest number of anti-Black crimes ever reported. Meanwhile, Latino residents faced a rise to 121 incidents, accompanied by the highest rate of violence among all racial/ethnic groups.

The report also highlighted a record-breaking number of anti-transgender crimes, a surge in hate crime violence, and an alarming 41% increase in religion-based crimes, with Jews being the primary target.

One of the most disturbing aspects is the continuous underreporting of hate crimes, as acknowledged by county officials. The LA vs Hate initiative has undoubtedly facilitated more robust reporting, resulting in increased numbers. However, the report emphasized that a substantial number of hate crimes likely go unreported, with nearly half of all violent hate crimes remaining undisclosed to law enforcement, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Concerns Deepen Amidst LAPD’s Historic Shortage

Amidst the rising tide of hate crimes, Los Angeles is grappling with a severe shortage in its police force, the most significant shortfall since the 1990s, according to Mayor Karen Bass. In a recent announcement, Mayor Bass expressed her apprehension about the dwindling numbers in the LAPD, meeting with the newest batch of officer recruits.

“Today L.A. Mayor Karen Bass met with the newest batch of officer recruits. Afterwards, she and Chief Michael Moore talked about how to address the department’s officer shortage,” noted the announcement.

The LAPD’s officer workforce has dwindled to its lowest point since the 1990s, adding another layer of concern to an already precarious situation. The shortage is a multi-faceted challenge, impacting both sworn officers and civilian professional staff, affecting the overall efficiency of the department.

Addressing the shortage, Mayor Bass emphasized the importance of not only recruiting new officers but also improving working conditions, enhancing facilities, and upgrading technology. These measures, she believes, are crucial for making a marked difference in the path forward for a safer Los Angeles.

Navigating the Intersection of Hate Crimes and Police Shortages

The convergence of a historic surge in hate crimes and a substantial shortage in the LAPD poses a complex challenge for Los Angeles. The safety and security of minority communities hang in the balance as the city navigates the intricate dynamics of bias-motivated crimes and law enforcement capabilities.

In response to these challenges, the LA vs Hate initiative emerges as a beacon of hope. Recognizing the limitations of traditional reporting methods and the hesitancy within certain communities to engage with law enforcement, the initiative provides an alternative avenue for reporting hate crimes. The initiative’s comprehensive approach involves community engagement, education, and support services to empower individuals to stand against hate.

As Los Angeles grapples with the daunting task of rebuilding its workforce and addressing the heightened concerns over public safety, city officials, community leaders, and law enforcement agencies must collaborate closely to implement comprehensive strategies. These strategies should not only combat hate crimes but also fortify the city’s resilience against a backdrop of increasing challenges.

In this critical juncture, the urgency of addressing both hate crimes and police shortages cannot be overstated. Los Angeles must rise to the occasion, fostering a community that stands united against intolerance and equipped with the resources needed to ensure the safety and well-being of all its residents. The LA vs Hate initiative, with its focus on community-driven solutions, offers a promising path forward in these challenging times.

The statistics at a glance:

Following two years of double-digit increases, reported hate crimes in Los Angeles County grew 18% from 790 to 929, the second largest number in more than 20 years.  For the past 8 years, hate crimes have been trending upward and since 2013 there has been a 143% increase. 

The report’s significant findings include the following:

• 72% of hate crimes were of a violent nature, the second highest percentage in at least 20 years.
• Racial, sexual orientation and religious hate crimes all grew sharply.  But racism was by far the most common motivation, constituting 57% of all hate crimes. Racist crimes jumped 14%, from 476 to 545. 
• Although they only comprise about 9% of the county’s population, African Americans were again disproportionately targeted and comprised 53% of racial hate crime victims.  While anti-Black crimes climbed, all other major racial and ethnic groups experienced slight increases or declined significantly.
• Anti-Latino/a crimes rose 3% and they again were the second largest group of racial victims.  This was the seventh year in a row that Latino/as experienced the highest rate of violence (93%) of any racial/ethnic group.
• Anti-Asian crimes, which had soared to record highs during the pandemic, declined 25%.  However, the 61 crimes reported were the second largest number in this report’s history.
• Sexual orientation crimes comprised the second largest motivation (18%) and grew 20%.  81% of these crimes targeted gay men.
• Religious crimes spiked 41% and comprised 16% of all hate crimes. Eighty-three percent of these crimes were anti-Jewish.
• There were 44 anti-transgender crimes, the largest number ever documented.  Ninety-one percent of these crimes were violent, a rate much higher than racial, sexual orientation, and religious attacks.
• After skyrocketing 48% the previous year, hate crimes in which anti-immigrant slurs were used continued to climb another 12% from 84 to 94.  This was the largest number ever recorded.  Suspects used anti-immigrant language in 55% of anti-Latino/a crimes and in 25% of anti-Asian offenses.
• Hate crimes committed by gang members remained elevated and comprised 6% of all hate crimes.  74% of these were racially-motivated.
• After declining the previous hear, hate crimes that contained evidence of white supremacist ideology (most often the use of swastikas in vandalism) increased 66% from 97 to 140 crimes.  This was the largest number in 13 years. They comprised 15% of all reported hate crime.  There was evidence of white supremacist belief systems in 38% of all religious hate crimes and 9% of racial crimes.
• Similar to the previous year, the largest number of hate crimes (251) reported in 2022 took place in the Metro Service Planning Area (SPA) Region IV (which stretches from West Hollywood to Boyle Heights) followed by San Fernando Valley SPA Region II (141).  This represents large increases in the number of hate crimes in both regions. However, if one compares the populations of the regions to the numbers of reported hate crimes, the Metro SPA had the highest rate followed by West SPA Region V (which includes part of West Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Culver City, and a number of beach communities). These two regions have had the highest rates for several years in a row.

To view the complete report, including hate crime maps, graphs, and tables, please visit hrc.lacounty.gov. Some hate crime data is limited by the current searchability of the database only for the time period of 2003 to 2022. For specific race/ethnicity data and examples, please click here for anti-Black hate crimes, click here for anti-Latino/a hate crimes, and click here for anti-Asian hate crimes.

VISALIA, Calif. –  Peter Park can safely be categorized as a child prodigy and academic wunderkinder having entered high school at age 13, passing the rigorous California State Bar exam at 17, and just this past week becoming the youngest practicing prosecutor in California at age 18.

On Wednesday, December 6, Tulare County District Attorney, Tim Ward swore Park in. According to the biography furnished by the Office of the Tulare County District Attorney;

In a legal history making moment, Tulare County District Attorney law clerk Peter Park passed the rigorous California bar exam on his first attempt making him the youngest person to ever pass the exam at age 17. According to research, the previous record holder was 18 years old. Park received his test results on November 9 after taking the exam in July.

At the age of 13 in 2019, Park began high school at Oxford Academy in Cypress, CA. Simultaneously, Park enrolled in a four-year juris doctor program at Northwestern California University School of Law utilizing a state bar rule that allows students to apply to law school through the completion of College Level Proficiency Exams (CLEPS).

After graduating high school in 2021 by taking the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE), Park focused on law school and graduated in 2023. Park became a law clerk with the Tulare County District Attorney that August.

“It was not easy, but it was worth it. It required discipline and strategy to pass the Bar, and I made it in the end. I am extremely blessed to have discovered this path, and my hope is that more people will realize that alternative paths exist to becoming an attorney,” Park said. “I aspire to become a prosecutor because I am driven by a moral obligation to uphold liberty, equality, and justice in society. I admire how prosecutors keep our community safe and bring closure to victims.”

Park turned age 18 in late November and was sworn in yesterday in Visalia as one of California’s youngest practicing attorneys and prosecutors.

By Bryan Luhn | HOUSTON, Texas – Researchers at the University of Houston say major, state-level shifts in social and legal rights available to women and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) individuals are affecting interstate migration attitudes and may have negative impacts on states’ economies and workforces.

In a study published in Population Research and Policy Review, researchers surveyed more than 1,000 people from varying backgrounds after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last year that ended the constitutional right to an abortion and assessed their views on the desirability of moving to a state with restrictions on access to abortions, gender-affirming medical care, participation in team sports for transgender individuals, teaching about gender and sexuality in schools, same-sex marriage and protections from employment discrimination based on sexual orientation.

“The majority of people who responded to our survey, regardless of their political orientation, indicated they would be less willing to move to states with these policies or that the policies wouldn’t affect their decision to do so,” said Amanda Baumle, lead author and sociology professor at UH. “These policies are much more of a deterrent to migration than an incentive.”

The study found that women, and their partners, gay men, lesbians and those with LGBT family members may choose to avoid states with policies suggesting an unfriendly political environment. The findings also suggest that those in higher-earning occupations, or those who are invested in work or education opportunities, could be discouraged from moving to states with these policies.

“Migration attitudes provide an important benchmark for understanding how abortion and LGBTQ laws and policies influence opinions about the desirability of states as potential destinations,” Baumle said. “If the policies are deterring people from moving to a certain state, there could be negative economic and workforce impacts.”

According to The New York Times, 21 states now ban or restrict abortions. In several other states, there is an ongoing legal battle over abortion access. And the American Civil Liberties Union says state legislatures advanced more than 500 anti-LGBTQ bills this year, more than double the number of similar bills introduced last year.

The UH study found most people are averse to moving to states that enacted highly restrictive abortion laws, such as bans on traveling to other states for abortions or policies allowing people to report abortion seekers to authorities. They were the least averse to moving to states with restrictions related to gender-affirming care for children, transgender children playing on sports teams different than their assigned sex at birth and education-related restrictions such as “don’t say gay” laws.

“I think that fits in with a lot of prior research that people perceive children as in need of being sheltered from anything that falls outside of the gender binary or heterosexuality,” said study co-author Elizabeth Gregory, professor of English and director of Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies at UH. “Something that was somewhat surprising was that restrictions on participation in sports for transgender youth was viewed less negatively for migration and more as a potential draw than any of the other policies.”

One of the key takeaways of the study, Baumle says, is that states continuing to enact these laws and policies may do so at considerable risk of diminishing their state’s attractiveness, or pull, as a potential migration destination.

“Our findings suggest these restrictive laws and policies have implications for migration attitudes beyond women and LGBTQ individuals,” Gregory said. “States, including legislators and business owners, should consider potential social and economic effects of these actions as an important part of their policy deliberations.”

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Bryan Luhn is the Interim Director of Media Relations at the University of Houston. Luhn is an award-winning storyteller and content creator.

The preceding piece was previously published by the University of Houston and is republished with permission.

OXNARD, Calif. – Widespread Red Flag Fire Weather conditions are expected for areas of Ventura and Los Angeles Counties as dry, moderate to strong Santa Ana winds continue into Sunday.

These conditions mean fires can become ignited easily, spread rapidly, & exhibit extreme fire behavior. Report fires to the authorities, and avoid any work that could create a spark. Never park vehicles on dry grasses. Residents near wildland interfaces should be prepared to evacuate if a wildfire breaks out.

According to the National Weather Service, the windiest conditions will be felt in Los Angeles and Ventura County valleys on Saturday.

“Expect winds to continue to increase through sunrise to the mid-morning hours, with damaging wind gusts [of up to] sixty miles per hour becoming more widespread,” NWS said. “There will likely be some gusts over seventy miles per hour in the windiest locations of the Los Angeles County mountains, the Santa Susana Mountains, and the western Santa Monica Mountains.” 

As of 5:30 a.m. Saturday, NWS recorded the gustiest winds at the Magic Mountain Truck Trail (65 miles per hour); Boney Mountain (63 miles per hour); Deer Creek Canyon (62 miles per hour) and Cal State San Bernardino (61 miles per hour). 

KTLA reported that video footage shows the blustery winds whipping across the San Fernando Valley, toppling everything from outdoor Christmas decorations to basketball hoops and parking lot signs.

“If fire ignition occurs, conditions may be favorable for extreme fire behavior which would threaten life and property,” weather officials said. 

A High Wind Warning is also in effect for communities in the western San Gabriel Mountains until 3 p.m. Saturday.

The winds will taper off by Sunday evening and into Monday, paving the way for warm temperatures to start the week, NWS said.

By  Philip van Slooten | TAKOMA PARK, Md. – Police cordoned off a popular strip in Takoma Park, Maryland on Saturday after a bomb threat shut down businesses, including a holiday performance by drag artist Tara Hoot.

MotorKat General Manager Mike Rothman told the Washington Blade that Takoma Park police notified them of a bomb threat to their business around noon.

Tara Hoot was delivering a holiday brunch performance at the MotorKat when the evacuation order came in. Rothman said they were notified “five minutes into her final performance.” Tara Hoot herself told the audience to leave for their safety.

Police proceeded to tape off the area and evacuated all businesses between Eastern and South Carroll Avenues, including TakomaBevCo, which is co-owned by MotorKat Wine Director Seth Cook.

Cook told the Blade that police brought in “bomb-sniffing dogs” to clear the area before allowing businesses to reopen around 2 p.m. “The timing is unfortunate as this is one of the busiest weekends before the holidays,” Cook said.

Rothman was also disappointed by the lost revenue due to what ultimately was a false threat, but he was firm that the Takoma Park LGBTQ community is resilient and would continue to thrive despite this setback.

“Takoma Park is a pretty proud and resilient community,” he said. “I don’t expect people to lay down and be scared by this.”

MotorKat and TakomaBevCo reopened for business around 3 p.m.

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Philip van Slooten is a frequent contributor to the Washington Blade and the Los Angeles Blade.

Van Slooten’s work has been featured at WJZ-TV (Baltimore, MD), Yahoo News, U.S. News & World Report, the Baltimore Sun, the Capital Gazette, Pride Source, Capital News Service, among other media outlets.

By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – The City of West Hollywood’s Arts Division has installed a new temporary public artwork, Rebekah Rose’s Peaches and Tea. It is on the ground floor of the West Hollywood Park Five-Story Parking Structure, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. This 9’-by-9’ vinyl mural installation is planned to be on display through April 2025.

“This one is for the queens,” said Rebekah Rose in an artist statement. “The gender expansive they/she/hes who are breaking boundaries and busting binaries every day in a society that threatens to erase them. It is a wish for the queer community to enjoy simple pleasures and experience ease everywhere they go. These three queens have chosen each other as family and are enjoying a gay day in the park. They serve up tea and eat peaches in broad daylight, and no one bothers them as they enjoy each other’s company. They represent the joy and love that everyone under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella deserves to experience every day.”

Rebekah Rose is a queer non-binary illustrator, muralist, and trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness teacher. In addition to their work as an artist and as a teacher, they work as the Program Manager for a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization, the Arts for Healing and Justice Network. They have a BFA in illustration from California State University Long Beach. Their artwork centers on issues related to queerness, consent, body image, mental health, and social justice. They firmly believe that the path towards collective liberation is only possible by centering the needs of those most impacted by oppressive systems and actively working on healing the subsequent trauma that gets stored in the body through movement and creative expression.

Previous artworks installed at this location include Travion Payne’s Heteronormative Death of the Golden Child; Mei Xian Qui’s Let A Thousand Flowers Bloom; Yuri Boyko’s The Persona, and Rajab Sayed’s Partition.

The City of West Hollywood’s Arts Division delivers a broad array of arts programs including Art on the Outside (temporary public art), City Poet Laureate, Drag Laureate, Drag Story Hour, Free Theatre in the Parks, Grants, Holiday Programming, Human Rights Speaker Series, Library Exhibits, National Poetry Month, One City One Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival, Summer Sounds + Winter Sounds, Urban Art (permanent public art), and WeHo Reads.

For more information about City of West Hollywood arts programming, please visit www.weho.org/arts.

For more information about this artwork, please contact Marcus Mitchell, the City of West Hollywood’s Public Art Administrator, at (323) 848-3122 or at [email protected].

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Paulo Murillo is Editor in Chief and Publisher of WEHO TIMES. He brings over 20 years of experience as a columnist, reporter, and photo journalist.

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The preceding article was previously published by WeHo Times and is republished with permission.