US LGBTQ veterans given dishonourable discharges eligible for full benefits
LGBTQ veterans who were discharged from the military because of their sexual orientation under the disgraced ‘Don’t ask Don’t Tell’ policy are now eligible to receive full benefits. The Department of Veteran Affairs announced this week that LGBTQ veterans or not any less worthy of care and services that all veterans earn through service. The Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy began in 1993 and banned LGBTQ service members who were open about their sexual orientation. It is estimated over 100,000 personnel were discharged from the US military in the 17 years the policy was in effect. The rules were overturned ten years ago.
Queer Eye hosts immortalised by Lego
Toy company Lego has announced a set of characters based on the cast of “Queer Eye”. A new 974 piece set of Lego being launched on the 1st October features mini-figure versions of Jonathan Van Ness, Tan France, Karamo Brown, Bobby Berk, Antoni Porowski, and the show’s dog Bruley. For $99.99 USD purchasers will also get sets suiting each of the characters, including a kitchen, clothing rack, salon swivel chair, and a couch.
Germany compensates 249 people persecuted over homosexuality law
German authorities have compensated 249 people who were prosecuted or investigated under a Nazi-era law criminalising homosexuality that continued to be enforced after World War II. The Federal Office of Justice stated this week that up to the end of August, 317 people had applied for compensation, and it had paid out nearly 860,000 euros to 249 cases. Fourteen applications were still being processed, 18 were rejected, and 36 were withdrawn. German lawmakers approved the annulment of thousands of convictions under the law which remained in force in West Germany until homosexuality was decriminalised in 1969.
Tom Ford’s husband Richard Buckley dies aged 72
Fashion journalist Richard Buckley has died aged 72 after a long illness. Buckley was in a relationship with designer Tom Ford for 35 years. The couple met at a friend’s fashion show and fell in love. In 2012, the couple announced the birth of their son Alexander John Buckley Ford.
