National
LGBT sites join Reddit, Wikipedia in protest of SOPA
Sites see proposed piracy legislation as threat to internet, ‘go dark’ together today to raise awareness
Google has censored its logo today in an effort to raise awareness about the effects of proposed piracy legislation. Several LGBT sites have joined the protest. (screen shot of Google.com homepage)
The threat of passage of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) has led sites across the internet — including some LGBT — to go dark today in protest of the legislation backed by the Recording Industry Association of America and the Motion Picture Association of America, as well as dozens of companies from Wal-Mart to CBS.
SOPA and its Senate counterpart the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) seek to curb online piracy by requiring internet service providers to block access to domains of foreign sites that are suspected of offering users access to pirated content. This means that sites like Pirate Bay — which allow users to share access to pirated movies and music — could be blocked if they are found to have copyright violations. However, the law could also put in jeopardy sites like YouTube, where budding artists like Justin Bieber have turned to post cover versions of copyrighted songs in hopes of making it big, as well as users who post T.V. and movie clips in fan videos, or users who use popular music as the background to home videos, such as wedding videos. YouTube uses a link shortener ‘youtu.be’ which is registered in Belgium, putting YouTube in jeopardy of having violated the law for not removing videos like this:
The law in its current form states sites would have five days to pull down links to the content before a judge can order them darkened, which could cause massive problems for many sites in the U.S.
Also in jeopardy would be social sites where users often post links and video to their news feed that could potentially violate the law. Under SOPA and PIPA, Facebook and Twitter could be held liable for such violations, and a judge could order them darkened in whole or in part, though proponents of the law say that is not likely to happen. The same could happen to blogs and the websites of news organizations whose articles link to relevant material found elsewhere on the internet, which could potentially include blacklisted sites.
Finally, search engines like Google and Bing are extremely vulnerable to some of the terms of SOPA and PIPA, which compels the sites to monitor links for possible gateways to pirated material. Paypal and eBay would also be left open to possible claims through SOPA and PIPA if they allow transactions to foreign sites which may feature pirated content.
In an effort to bring attention to the potential effects of enforcing SOPA and PIPA, web news-sharing site Reddit, and internet encyclopedia Wikipedia have gone offline today to highlight what could be a possible future for sites like these if SOPA and PIPA are passed and enforced to their fullest extent. While most legal experts don’t expect Google of Facebook to be shut down under SOPA and PIPA, critics claim the broad language and lack of recourse options for sites levied with quarantine orders make SOPA a potential problem for many domestic sites on the internet that provide access to content beyond their own domain.
In an effort to stand in solidarity with Reddit and Wikipedia, LGBT operated sites like Bilerico.com, Rawstory.com, Talk About Equality, The New Civil Rights Movement, and LGBTPOV.com have gone dark today. In addition, Google has redesigned its homepage to censor its logo, and offer options to contact lawmakers.
LGBT news site Towleroad.com placed a splash page up encouraging visitors to contact their lawmakers about SOPA.
“New bills in the US Congress and Senate are attempting to give the US government the ability to censor and shut down websites without due process,” the splash page reads. “It’s crucial we speak up to stop these bills from becoming law.”
Though users can still view the site’s content, all visitors to the site will be greeted with the unique splash page today, reminding fans that resources like Towleroad would be in danger of going dark if claims under SOPA are brought against the site.
National
Lou Chibbaro Jr. documentary wins award from NLGJA
‘Lou’s Legacy’ produced by D.C.’s Mattachine Society
“Lou’s Legacy: a Reporter’s Life at the Washington Blade,” a documentary produced by The Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C., will receive an Excellence in Journalism Award from NLGJA, the Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists.
The film premiered on WETA PBS in D.C. and Maryland Public Television (MPT) in June of 2025. The documentary’s Emmy-nominated director and producer Patrick Sammon will accept the award for Excellence in Local Television on Sept. 11 at NLGJA’s National Convention in San Francisco.
“Lou’s Legacy” was produced in association with the Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C., a non-profit LGBTQ history society dedicated to conducting original archival research. Aside from Sammon, the NLGJA is recognizing other members of the film’s production team including Producer Julianne Donofrio, Editor Amir Jaffer, Executive Producer Charles Francis, and Executive Producer Pate Felts.
“Lou’s Legacy” tells the story of two D.C. icons — legendary Washington Blade reporter Lou Chibbaro Jr. and beloved drag performer Donnell Robinson, known to generations of Washington audiences as “Ella Fitzgerald.” Through Lou’s nearly five-decade career at the Blade and Ella’s return to the stage after a three-year hiatus following COVID, the 29-minute documentary explores the history of Washington’s LGBTQ community and today’s rising backlash against LGBTQ rights, including laws targeting drag performers.
“All students of journalism can learn a lot from the story of Lou Chibbaro, Jr. Lou has chronicled nearly five decades of LGBTQ+ life and the community’s struggle for equality in Washington, D.C. Lou’s work and the role of the queer press has been essential in covering stories the mainstream media would often ignore or erase,” said Ryan Levi, president of the D.C. chapter of the NLGJA.
“We are thrilled to receive this award from the NLGJA,” said the film’s director Patrick Sammon. “Lou Chibbaro’s nearly five decade career at the Washington Blade demonstrates the essential role LGBTQ journalism plays in telling our community’s stories and documenting its history. This recognition from journalists who follow in Lou’s footsteps is particularly meaningful to me and the rest of our production team.”
Arizona
Shooting outside gay bar in Ariz. leaves three dead
Tucson police investigating double murder-suicide as a hate crime
Three people were fatally shot outside a gay bar in Tucson, Ariz., early Monday morning, about a mile from the city’s nightlife district.
Police have said the shooting, which took place in the parking lot of Venture-N bar at 1239 N. 6th Ave., was likely a hate crime and a double murder-suicide following a verbal altercation.
The suspect, Ousman Ceesay, allegedly shot Vincent Anthony Siqueiros and Cameron Davis Capara while they were outside the club around 12:30 a.m. Monday.
Reports show Capara and Siqueiros were pronounced dead at the scene. Ceesay died after being taken to a local hospital with gunshot wounds.
Police have also said that Ceesay was carrying a list of LGBTQ businesses at the time of the shooting.
Arizona Public Media has said police are investigating the case as a hate crime because the suspect was carrying a note containing the names of multiple LGBTQ-associated businesses.
“I am deeply saddened that another senseless loss of life has happened in our community,” Tucson Police Chief Monica Prieto said in a statement. “Bias-based crimes are especially heinous and have no place in our community.”
According to Prieto, there is no imminent threat to the community, and the Tucson Police Department is working to provide extra protection to various LGBTQ businesses across town.
Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva, who represents the area, issued a statement condemning the act of violence, which appears to have been at least in part motivated by homophobia.
“I am disgusted and deeply saddened to learn of a targeted act of hate and the cold-blooded murder of two members of our LGBTQIA+ community, Vincent Siqueiros and Cameron Capara, at the Venture-N bar in Tucson last night. This horrific attack is a painful reminder that even in welcoming communities like Tucson, hate and violence against the LGBTQIA+ community still exist.”
“When that hate is combined with easy access to firearms, the consequences can be deadly. I am sick and tired of Congress refusing to lift a finger to protect our communities while, every day, dozens of people are shot and killed across the country. It does not have to be this way. The House of Representatives is returning to session this week, and our first action should be passing common-sense gun safety reforms that we know can save lives.”
Other federal lawmakers also condemned the shooting.
The Congressional Equality Caucus, which is made up of federal legislators advancing LGBTQ interests, issued a statement after news broke.
“Our hearts are with the friends and loved ones of the victims of this devastating attack outside a Tucson gay bar and with the Tucson LGBTQI+ community,” it said on X. “No one should fear violence because of who they are — and we’re going to continue fighting to build a world where no one does.”
The Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBTQ organization in the country, released a statement following the shooting.
“We are heartbroken by the loss of Vincent Anthony Siqueiros and Cameron Davis Capara and our hearts are with their families, loved ones, and the entire Tucson LGBTQ+ community. Once again, we are reminded that gun violence robs people of their lives, destroys families, and devastates communities.”
A candlelight vigil honoring the victims is planned for Sept. 2 at 6:30 p.m. at Catalina Park in North Tucson.
Congress
HRC president campaigns for Chris Pappas in NH
Gay congressman running to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen
Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson on Sunday campaigned for U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) in New Hampshire.
Robinson traveled to Manchester, the state’s largest city, nine days before the Sept. 8 primary that will determine who will vie for retiring U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.)’s seat.
We’re hitting the pavement across New Hampshire to fight for a freer, fairer future for everyone.
Glad to have Human Rights Campaign President @KelleyJRobinson join us for a canvass launch in Manchester today. pic.twitter.com/XWCEaQxy4o
— Chris Pappas (@ChrisPappasNH) August 30, 2026
Former U.S. Sen. John E. Sununu, who represented New Hampshire in the U.S. Senate from 2003-2009, will face off against former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, who represented Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate from 2010-2013, in the Republican primary.
Karishma Manzur is among the Democrats challenging Pappas.
A poll the University of New Hampshire Survey Center released on Aug. 26 shows Sununu is ahead of Brown. The same survey shows Pappas ahead of Manzur and his other Democratic challengers.
The UNH Survey Center poll shows Sununu ahead of Pappas by a 45-43 percent margin if they were to face off in the general election. The margin of error is +/-2.1 percent.
Pappas would become the first openly gay man elected to the U.S. Senate if he were to win in November.
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