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Angelica Ross is all about being a conduit for the trans community. As an early techie herself, the “Pose” actress launched TransTech Social — a company to bring more trans, queer, and gender non-conforming people into tech — in 2014, as previously reported by AfroTech. By 2017, she then hosted the TransTech Summit, which is a free event for attendees to be educated on ways to level up in their careers and the industry. “Well, I had been going to tech summits all over the place, not just tech summits, but just conferences, from LGBTQ focused conferences to tech focused conferences,” Ross said, according to Essence. “I just realized that there was probably a space missing that is centered by trans people, one in which we are centered enough so that everybody who is in our environment is not only watching out for the violence, but it’s like they’re also educated and informed so we can truly be an asset to one another.” The outlet reports that the tech summit is making its way back...
Hinge is here to save your love life just in time for Valentine’s Day. According to a press release, the dating app will partner with singer and songwriter Soko to distribute $100 to parents for child care needs. The financial relief is timely, as the dating scene can be difficult to navigate with children in the mix. In fact, Hinge collected data revealing 63 percent of singles with children – and 73 percent of LGBTQ+ parents find it difficult to make time for their love life. The financial nudge aims to remind parents to prioritize their needs and get out into the dating world. “Sometimes, I get lost in that world where I’m ‘just’ being a mom non-stop. I forget my core essence and can’t even imagine going on a date or having a romantic life. That’s why it’s important for us to just put ourselves out there. To try to find love beyond parenthood. Even if you’re not in a place to do it right now, just reminding yourself you deserve is important,” Soko said in the press release. Hinge...
DaBaby’s recent remarks came with a heavy price! The rapper, born Jonathan Lyndale Kirk, has been under fire since his insensitive remarks about HIV/AIDS during his set at Miami’s Rolling Loud festival. According to Variety, the remarks were followed by disdain from the LGBTQ+ community, and fans of DaBaby began to accuse the rapper of being homophobic. Rather than an apology, the “Bop” emcee took to his social media to double down on his statements which not only further enraged fans but were just as homophobic as his remarks made during Rolling Loud. After further digging his own grave, DaBaby was met with cancelations of festivals one by one beginning with Lollapalooza — a festival he was set to headline. “Lollapalooza was founded on diversity, inclusivity, respect, and love,” read the announcement. “With that in mind, DaBaby will no longer be performing at Grant Park tonight.” He was replaced with Young Thug, who was scheduled to perform during an earlier slot. The Chicago-based...
Education at HBCUs extends far beyond the classroom, and Morehouse College is no different. This week, the historically Black college received a generous gift to the student body and faculty from Morehouse alumnus George Wells, of the Wells Group, in the form of a $1 million art collection. “I will always be grateful for my Morehouse education and the springboard it created for my career on Wall Street and in business, and I want to recognize that with this gift,” Wells said in a press statement for Black Enterprise. According to Black Enterprise, in 2018 Wells began his art collection with his husband, Manfred Ratner, which has now grown to include over 50 pieces of artwork from both rising and established artists. The purpose of building this collection was for Wells to be able to reflect on prominent paintings from Black and LGBTQ artists that speak to representation in their communities and educate his alma mater on cultural identity, social, and political critiques. “Owning...
Google has carefully cultivated an image for itself as a socially conscious tech company. The company even hosts an “Equal Justice Initiative” described as committed to “protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society.” However, Google’s social responsibility through its initiatives, and history and treatment of its own marginalized employees tell two different stories. Recently, Google told employees that Pride protests would be in direct violation of the company’s code of conduct. Employees were planning to march alongside Google while protesting YouTube following poor handling of homophobic harassment directed at Vox journalist, Carlos Maza . When asked if that would be allowed, an inclusion lead said, according to The Verge: “Employees are free to make whatever statement they want personally, apart from our corporate sponsored float/contingent. But they are not permitted to leverage our platform to express a message contradictory to the one...
Recently, YouTube has come under scrutiny for its failure to remove videos containing homophobic language. The issue originally arose after Vox reporter Carlos Maza tweeted about ongoing harassment from Steven Crowder. In his Twitter thread, Maza included a video compilation of Crowder making homophobic comments like calling Maza a “lispy queer.” YouTube originally responded via its own Twitter account stating that “while we found language that was clearly hurtful, the videos as posted don’t violate our policies.” Since then, YouTube has demonetized Crowder’s account and CEO Susan Wojcicki attempted to issue an apology to the LGBTQ+ Community . Now, Google is stepping in. Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai sent out an internal email promising that YouTube is taking a “hard look” at its harassment policies. The email, obtained by The Verge , also stated that the company will consult “many groups, including people who have themselves experienced harassment.” “It was important for me to hear...
Last week, Google announced a new external advisory board to to ensure the company works towards “responsible” AI development. People quickly honed in on one board addition: Kay Coles James, president of the conservative think-tank, the Heritage Foundation. Now, over 1,200 Googlers — along with academic, civil society, and industry supporters — have signed a petition calling for James’ removal, citing her transphobia, homophobia, and anti-immigrant positions as cause. “In selecting James, Google is making clear that its version of ‘ethics’ values proximity to power over the wellbeing of trans people, other LGBTQ people, and immigrants,” Googlers Against Transphobia and Hate wrote in a Medium post. Noting that the person who took credit for James’ appointment claimed it was to ensure “diversity of thought,” the group added: “This is a weaponization of the language of diversity. By appointing James to the ATEAC, Google elevates and endorses her views, implying that hers is a valid...
Apple has removed an app promoting anti-gay messages from the App Store after an LGBT rights organization petitioned against it. According to The Dallas Morning News, the app was created three years ago by Living Hope Ministries, a Texas based non-profit that’s been accused of gay conversion therapy, the practice of trying to change a person’s sexual identity. On its website, the organization claims to “disciple young adults who are actively seeking Christian support as they pursue Christ and His design for sexuality.” The app has been available in Google, Amazon, and Windows stores. Truth Wins Out, an organization that opposes conversion therapy and launched a petition against the app , says it was removed from the Apple store a day after it appeared there. “We thank Apple for exemplifying corporate responsibility and taking swift action to remove a dangerous app that stigmatizes and demeans LGBT people,” Truth Wins Out Director Wayne Besen said in a statement. Truth Wins Out...