Canada invited Chelsea Manning to country just so she could be thrown out

Bizarre request made ahead of immigration hearing for Manning, whose previous attempts to enter Canada have been denied

Canadian government lawyers recently invited US whistleblower Chelsea Manning to travel to a hearing in Ottawa – so that border agents could then physically remove her from the country.

The bizarre request, which was eventually denied by an adjudicator, was made ahead of an immigration hearing set to begin on Thursday for Manning, whose previous attempts to enter Canada have been denied.

This article was amended on 7 October 2021 to correct a city name that was misspelled.

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Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/07/chelsea-manning-canada-hearing
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Americans approval of interracial marriage hits all time high of 94 percent: Gallup

Americans’ approval of interracial marriage has hit an overwhelming, all-time high, according to a new Gallup poll released Friday.According to survey results, 94 percent of U.S. adults approve of interracial marri…

Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/news/571654-americans-approval-of-interracial-marriage-hits-all-time-high-of-94-percent
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Rachel Scully

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New Census data to show US diversifying at fastest rate ever

Data to be released Thursday by the Census Bureau is likely to show the U.S. is diversifying at the fastest rate in the nation’s history, even as overall population growth slows to the most sluggish pace since the c…

Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/567383-new-census-data-to-show-us-diversifying-at-fastest-rate-ever
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Reid Wilson

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More than 400 U.S. counties are now minority white

Data: U.S. Census Bureau; Map: Connor Rothschild and Naema Ahmed/Axios

White, non-Hispanic Americans now account for less than six in 10 people in the U.S. — a more precipitous drop over the past decade than experts expected — and they’re no longer the racial-ethnic majority in 13% of U.S. counties.

The big picture: America’s identity is shifting with its population.

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• Redistricting will decide how partisan power is divvied up for the next decade — but in some states, those politically driven decisions may obscure these deeper statistical trends.

By the numbers: White, non-Hispanic Americans are about 58% of the U.S. population, according to data from the 2020 census released on Thursday. That’s lower than the estimates of 60%, and it compares with about 64% in 2010.

• They are no longer the racial-ethic majority in 400 of the nation’s 3,100+ counties and county equivalents, up from 340 a decade ago.

Be smart: The pace of the decline may reflect a combination of actual change plus new ways the Census Bureau is asking about demographic identity to capture Americans who identify with more than one race.

The intrigue: Non-whiteness and diversity are actually two different measures. The Census also has developed a way to calculate diversity based on how likely it is that two people chosen at random within a boundary will be of different races or ethnicities.

• The least diverse state, by this measure, is Maine, at 19%. The most diverse is Hawaii, at 76%.

Source: https://www.axios.com/diversity-majority-minority-white-american-census-bd181b53-f170-40b2-9913-dd43363e1aaf.html
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Census shows US growth driven by minorities; white pop falls under 60 percent

The growth in the American population over the last decade was driven entirely by minority communities, according to new data released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau, as the number of white Americans declined for the…

Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/567605-census-shows-us-growth-driven-by-minorities-white-pop-falls-under-60
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Reid Wilson

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Nearly 100 members of Congress call for probe into DOJ’s alleged racial profiling of Asians

Nearly 100 members of Congress are urging Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate the Justice Department’s alleged racial profiling of Asians, according to a letter shared with Axios.

Why it matters: The case of Anming Hu, a scientist who was baselessly targeted in an espionage probe, has renewed scrutiny of the DOJ after an FBI agent admitted to falsely implicating the Chinese Canadian.

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• The bicameral coalition, led by Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), delivered the letter to Garland on Thursday.

What they’re saying: “Over the years, multiple people who happened to be of Asian descent have been falsely accused by the Department of Justice of espionage,” the letter states, citing Hu, Wen Ho Lee, Sherry Chen and Xiaoxing Xi.

• “The common thread in every one of these cases was a defendant with an Asian surname — and an innocent life that was turned upside down.”
• Lawmakers are asking for an investigation into DOJ operations and specifically the China Initiative, a program launched under President Donald Trump that targeted the Chinese government’s attempts to steal intellectual property.
• They also asked for an update on the agency’s implicit bias trainings, which were mandated in 2016 after the DOJ dropped several espionage charges against Asian researchers.

“This is across administrations and it’s both Democratic and Republican administrations, making the same mistakes over and over again,” Lieu told Axios.

• It’s not confined to the DOJ either, he said, referring to a “rogue” Commerce Department division that relied on race-based investigations.
• “I would urge all Cabinet secretaries to look at their agencies and figure out if they need to do training for their personnel.”

Worth noting: At a roundtable hosted by Reps. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) last month, Chen and Xi gave emotional testimonies about the anxiety and turmoil caused by the DOJ’s actions.

• Last week, the DOJ dropped individual cases against five Chinese researchers accused of hiding ties to the Chinese military.

Source: https://www.axios.com/china-asians-racial-profiling-doj-congress-ffb865e1-329b-4b08-a6ea-9a48ecc02260.html
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Shawna Chen

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Mississippi only state with no elected LGBTQ official: report

Mississippi is the only state in the U.S. with no known out LGBTQ elected official serving, according to a new annual report by the LGBTQ Victory Institute….

Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/565211-mississippi-only-state-without-an-elected-lgbtq-official-report
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Natalie Prieb

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Biden names special envoy for LGBTQ rights

President Biden on Friday named Jessica Stern as the State Department’s U.S. special envoy to advance the human rights of LGBTQ people, an announcement that coincides with the White House’s celebration of Pride Month….

Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/560191-biden-names-special-envoy-for-lgbtq-rights
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Morgan Chalfant

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House fails to pass bill to promote credit fairness for LGTBQ-owned businesses

The House on Tuesday failed to pass a bill aimed at ensuring that LGBTQ-owned businesses aren’t facing discrimination when applying for credit.Lawmakers considered the bill, authored by Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.)…

Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/558653-house-fails-to-pass-bill-to-promote-credit-fairness-for-lgtbq-owned-businesses
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Cristina Marcos

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New York lawmakers pass bill allowing gender-neutral ‘X’ on state ID

New York state lawmakers passed a bill on Thursday that will make it possible for people who identify as neither male nor female to have a gender-neutral “X” to designate their gender on birth certificates and drive…

Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/557962-new-york-passes-bill-to-allow-gender-neutral-x-on-state-id-documents
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Caroline Vakil

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New Connecticut parenting bill gives LGBTQ families a sigh of relief

“We already know we are a family, and now with this bill passing, no one can tell us differently,” one lesbian mom said of the Connecticut Parentage Act.

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/new-connecticut-parenting-bill-gives-lgbtq-families-sigh-relief-n1269282
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Julie Moreau

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Utah law mandates autism awareness training for police officers

A new law passed by the Utah state legislature in March will require police officers to complete mandatory training on autism awareness.The law, which took effect this month, mandates that Utah law enforcement offi…

Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/554718-utah-law-mandates-autism-awareness-training-for-police-officers
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Cameron Jenkins

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From apes to birds, there are 65 animal species that “laugh”

Enlarge / The stuff we call “laughter” from hyenas? It’s not. (credit: Getty Images)

Among humans, laughter can signify a lot of different things, from intimacy to discomfort. Among animals, however, laughter usually communicates something along the lines of “this is playtime—I’m not actually going for your throat.”

According to new research from the University of California, Los Angeles, there are likely at least 65 different creatures, including humans, that make these vocalizations. They’re most commonly found in primates, but they have also been noted in distant relatives like birds. It’s not clear whether this is because laughter has arisen several times over the course of evolution or if it’s more widespread and we just haven’t noticed.

Laughter in the library stacks

To reach this number, Sasha Winkler, a PhD student in UCLA’s anthropology department, searched high and low for any mention of animals making noises during play sessions. Some of the articles she found were quite old—one paper on mink dates back to 1931—so she ended up dusting off some aged tomes in the university’s library.

Read 13 remaining paragraphs | Comments

Source: https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/05/from-apes-to-birds-there-are-65-animal-species-that-laugh/
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Biden administration restores transgender health care protections rolled back under Trump

The Biden administration will reinstate anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people, especially transgender people, that had been narrowed under the Trump administration, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra confirmed Monday.

Why it matters: A Trump-era rule that excluded gender identity from sex discrimination protections made it easier for doctors, hospitals, and insurance companies to deny transgender people health coverage.

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• The rollback came last June, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and was part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to narrow legal protections for LGBTQ people.
• The new protections will bring the agency’s policies in line with a Supreme Court ruling last year that prevents employers from firing employees based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, HHS said in a press release.

What they’re saying: “It simply says what everyone already should know. You should not discriminate against people, that includes those based on sexual orientation or gender identity,” Becerra told CNN.

• “And when it comes to healthcare, we want to make sure that’s the case. There was a provision in the Affordable Care Act, which said that, and so now it’s clear.”
• “There’s no ambiguity. You cannot discriminate against people based on sexual orientation or gender identity.”

The big picture: LGBTQ advocates viewed Becerra’s confirmation as a win for transgender rights, considering his track record as California’s attorney general.

Source: https://www.axios.com/hhs-transgender-lgbtq-healthcare-cf3a12ed-0e6a-4728-9b72-d4a5097246ba.html
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Uganda passes bill criminalising same-sex relationships and sex work

The conservative African country insists it is ‘not yet ready’ for gay rights as campaigners say the flawed legislation sanctions rape

The Ugandan parliament has passed a controversial sexual offences bill which further criminalises same-sex relationships and sex work.

The laws were passed by MPs this week, reiterating sections of legislation first enforced in the country by British colonial rule. They condemn same-sex couples who perform acts deemed against the “order of nature” to 10 years’ imprisonment.

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Source: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/may/05/uganda-passes-bill-criminalising-same-sex-relationships-and-sex-work
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Vermont becomes first state to allow women to enlist for combat in its National Guard

Vermont’s National Guard announced this week that it will now allow women to fill roles in its combat arms units, making it the first state in the country to do so.The announcement came in a …

Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/551160-vermont-becomes-first-state-to-allow-women-to-enlist-for-combat-in-guard
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Cameron Jenkins

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Father arrested while testifying against anti-trans health ban in Arkansas

Chris Attig was arrested while testifying against HB 1570 in the Arkansas House on March 9. When their speech went 30 seconds over the allotted two minutes, Attig’s mic was cut, and police escorted them from the building. Attig says they stayed in jail for several hours before being released, and that they face a charge of disorderly conduct. — Read the rest

Source: https://boingboing.net/2021/04/30/father-arrested-while-testifying-against-anti-trans-health-ban-in-arkansas.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=father-arrested-while-testifying-against-anti-trans-health-ban-in-arkansas
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Jess Sabine

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Africa’s LGBTQ communities need more protection and support

South Africa should take the lead in the fight against homophobic hate crimes on the continent.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2021/4/30/africas-lgbtq-communities-need-more-protection-and-support
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Biden to transgender Americans: ‘Your president has your back.’

President Biden’s remarks, made during his first joint address to Congress, comes amid a wave of state bills targeting transgender people.

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/biden-transgender-americans-your-president-has-your-back-n1265836
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Brooke Sopelsa and Jo Yurcaba

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American Medical Association urges governors to veto transgender medical bans

The American Medical Association is urging governors across the country to oppose legislation prohibiting transition-related care for minors.

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-health-and-wellness/american-medical-association-urges-governors-veto-transgender-medical-rcna779
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Dan Avery

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