News Round-Up: June 19, 2017

Facial hair didn't keep these two from finding gay bliss
(via Instagram)

Some news items you may have missed:

• A religious leader for Russia’s Old Believers is urging Russian men to stop shaving because growing a beard will “protect themselves from homosexuality.” The man has clearly never attended Bear Week.

• A straight man, who was the victim of anti-gay animus for years because his employers perceived him to be gay, has been awarded $17.4 million in a discrimination law suit.

• As the Texas legislature heads back to Austin for a special session called by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in part to consider an anti-transgender "bathroom bill," a new poll by the University of Texas/Texas Tribune shows only 44% of Texas voters feel the bill is "important" while 47% do not.

• No Justice No Pride, the group that temporarily disrupted the Capital Pride Parade in Washington, D.C., last week, say they are planning a similar action for the upcoming New York City Pride March this coming Sunday. The group opposes, among other things, allowing police officers to march in Pride parades, increasing the number of black and brown queer and trans on Pride committees and ending corporate sponsorships by companies that have a determined negative impact on the LGBTQ community.

• The New York City Council is considering a proposal that would make it illegal for anyone to charge a fee for therapy that aims to change a person's sexual orientation.

• MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle highlights the increasing number of anti-LGBTQ bills, noting that more than 100 bills in 29 states have been introduced in statehouses across the country. The majority of these bills target the transgender community, or aim to give taxpayer-funded agencies and employees a ‘license to discriminate’ against the LGBTQ community. Watch below.

100+ new anti-LGBTQ laws on the books in 2017 so far in 29 states. Take a look. #pridemonth #lgbtq https://t.co/bRCYyuUR5e

— Stephanie Ruhle (@SRuhle) June 16, 2017