Kentucky Supreme Court dismisses gay pride T-shirt case
The Courier-Journal reported the Kentucky Supreme Court has sided with a print shop owner who refused to make a gay pride T-shirt because he says it was against his religious beliefs.
The state’s high court dismissed the claim after two lower courts also ruled in favor of Lexington print shop Hands-On Originals. The company declined a T-shirt order from Lexington’s Gay and Lesbian Services Organization for the city’s 2012 Gay Pride Festival. The design said “Lexington Pride Festival” on the front.
The high court ruled Oct. 31 that the gay advocacy group lacked standing to make a claim against shop owner Blaine Adamson because the city’s gay rights law was written to protect individuals. Justices wrote that the “wrong party” filed the complaint, making a determination of discrimination “almost impossible to conduct.”
Virginia women’s college updates transgender student policy
The Roanoke Times reported a private women’s university in Virginia has announced a new policy allowing students who transition from women to men during their time at the school to graduate.
Under the new guidelines at Hollins University in Roanoke, enrolled students who transition to men will no longer be required to transfer to another institution. And applicants transitioning from men to women will no longer have to complete a full surgical transition to be admitted.
Chairwoman Alexandra Trower said the changes were adopted Oct. 26.
The university says it’ll consider admission for any “applicants who consistently live and identify as women, regardless of the gender assigned to them at birth.”
Libertee Belle, Alabama LGBTQ activist, dies
The Tri-City Herald reported a drag queen who was an early advocate of LGBTQ rights in Alabama has died.
The performer known as Libertee Belle was among the organizers of Central Alabama Pride in the 1980s and served as grand marshal of Birmingham’s gay pride parade at least once.
She often performed at shows to benefit gay rights organizations and was among the highest-profile members of the state’s LGBTQ community.
Simoneau was found dead in his apartment on Oct. 24. A cause of death hasn’t been released.
His sister said a memorial service is being planned for November.
Reporting via Associated Press