Study: 63% Of U.S. Adults Support Same-Sex Marriages
Pew Research report highlights the impact of religion on the views of same-sex marriage around the globe.
Over the past decade, there has been increased public support for the legalization of same-sex marriage. But a new Pew Research study reveals just how different the world viewed the practice in the last two years.
The study analyzed several surveys in 32 places around the globe. In the United States, where Black people represented 8.8% of same-sex couple households in 2021, 63% of adults are in favor, and 34% oppose it. In that same year, about 69.7% of same-sex couple householders were white. The Supreme Court legalized the practice nationally in 2015.
In 2019, 51% of blacks supported same-sex marriages, a previous study found.
Views on same-sex marriage vary by religion, political ideology, age, education, and income, Pew Research supports. For example, 82% of Democrats and independents support same-sex marriage rights, compared to 44% of Republicans.
Additionally, in 21 of the places surveyed, adults under the age of 35 are “more likely than their older counterparts to say they favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally.”
“Religiously unaffiliated Americans (85%) – especially atheists (96%) – are the most likely to favor same-sex marriage legality.”
GLOBAL ATTITUDES
The latest research revealed that the “support for legal same-sex marriage is highest in Sweden, where 92% of adults favor it, and lowest in Nigeria, where only 2% back it.”
SWEDEN
According to the Swedish Institute, the gender-neutral marriage law was enacted in 2009. In the past 20 years, male-male marriages in Sweden have increased only modestly, while female-female marriages have soared to new heights. The Pew Research study found that only 20% of adults consider religion important to them. However, racial demographics were not included.
Somalians make up the largest group of foreign-born citizens from Africa living in Sweden in 2022, with nearly 70,000 people, Statista reported. Overall, the Black Swedish population is less than 1%.
AFRICA
In South Africa, the only place in Africa where same-sex marriage is legal, 59% of South Africans do not back the practice. Today, 84.2% of South Africans identify as Christian.
In Nigeria, where homosexuality is illegal, only 2% of adults claim they support same-sex marriage. Christians and Muslims in Nigeria are equally likely to oppose same-sex marriage, while 99% of adults say religion is at least “somewhat important” in their lives. Like Nigerians, most Kenyans oppose the practice, with only 9% in favor of it.
Pew Research’s report illustrates that the pattern of religion on the views of same-sex marriage around the globe is a consensus of its own.
“Support for legal same-sex marriage tends to be lower in places where more people say religion is somewhat or very important in their lives. Support is higher in places where fewer people consider religion important,” the research stated.
RIP to the woman who dared to sing, 'Who do you think you are Mr. Big Stuff?'
Jean Knight, the woman who gave the world “Mr. Big Stuff,” died on Nov. 22 at the age of 80.
The soul singer died in a hospital in Tampa, Florida, as confirmed by Mona Giamanco, a publicist for the singer’s family, The New York Times reported. The family announced Knight’s death in a statement they shared with USA Today.
“New Orleans and the music world mourns the loss of one its most treasured musical daughters, Jean Knight,” her family said, according to the news outlet. Knight’s longtime friend and a former Louisiana Music Commission executive director, Bernie Cyrus, also confirmed the New Orleans-born singer’s death to Rolling Stone. The cause of death was not provided.
Most people know Knight’s popular refrain, “Who do you think you are, Mr. Big Stuff?” which boldly called out conceited men on behalf of women. Cyrus said about the “Mr. Big Stuff” hit, “It was just so universal.”
The friend of the deceased singer also said, “People remember it. And look, so many people covered it. But nobody did it like Jean.”
The double-platinum hit, created by Knight and record producer Wardell Quezergue, was nominated for a Grammy in 1972. One year prior, the song went straight to No. 1 on Billboard’s Rhythm and Blues chart. It also sold millions of copies, Rolling Stone reported. The New York Times reported it was written by Carrol Washington, Ralph Williams, and Joseph Broussard.
Knight, who started singing after graduating high school, had her first song in 1965. The demo of Jackie Wilson’s “Stop Doggin’ Me Around” put her on the map until she released the female anthem “Mr. Big Stuff” on Stax Records.
Knight was born in New Orleans on Jan. 26, 1943. The R&B singer was given the name Jean Caliste at birth.
Straight Talk Support Group, a community-based organization, widely known as STSG, provides support group resources for families and friends of an incarcerated loved one and transitional housing for justice-involved individuals. In true alignment with STSG’s motto, Serving to See Greatness, the organization seeks out opportunities to be a blessing to others through kindness and generosity.
STSG announces a partnership with Bombas, an apparel brand with a mission to help those in need. November 20th, the Bombas Giving Partner, STSG, donated hundreds of pairs of Bombas’ high-quality socks to Community School of Digital and Visual Arts (CSDVA) in Durham, North Carolina.CSDVA prepares students for success in the 21st century by integrating technology into a curriculum of arts, athletics, character education along with academics. Students at The Nativity School, neighbors of STSG, will also receive pairs of socks Bombas high-quality, comfortable, and eco-friendly socks after the holiday week.“We are thrilled to partner with Bombas to spread kindness in our community,” said Bessie Elmore, Executive Director of Straight Talk Support Group and STSG Transitional House. “Donating these socks allows us to make a thoughtful gesture to our neighbors in our community. We understand the impact a changing economy is having on families. STSG prides itself on serving our community as a support system for families and friends who have incarcerated loved ones. We truly appreciate Bombas for allowing us to join them in paying it forward.”
“We started Bombas to help improve the lives of those in need through the power of giving back,” said The Bombas Giving Team. Partners like Straight Talk Support Group are selected to help Bombas get essential clothing into the hands, and onto the feet, of those in need by identifying those most in need of support in their local communities. Working with STSG to provide thoughtfully designed socks to students in underserved areas of Durham, North Carolina is a step in the right direction.
About Straight Talk Support Group:
Straight Talk Support Group (STSG) is a Durham-based nonprofit organization and reentry resource for justice-involved individuals, their families, friends, loved ones, and correctional institutions. Straight Talk Support Group offers bi-weekly virtual support groups for family members and loved ones to get information and discuss challenges and barriers. The organization also provides temporary housing, via STSG Transitional Housing, for justice-involved individuals on post-release through contractual agreements with the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections and local reentry councils. Learn more at StraightTalkSupportGroup.org
About Bombas:
Bombas is an apparel brand with a mission to help those in need. For every pair of socks purchased, Bombas donates a specially-designed pair to someone in need. Bombas socks are high-quality, comfortable, and eco-friendly. The socks feature vibrant colors and patterns that are suitable for all ages. Bombas has donated over 50 million pairs of socks to those at risk or experiencing homelessness across the United States.
Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong rejected an appeal from LAPD lawyers last month to dismiss the case, ruling that Officers Jeremy Wheeler and Jeffrey Yabana are not entitled to qualified immunity for unconstitutional detention, excessive force, retaliation, violation of due process, violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, violation of the Bane Act, battery, false arrest, and imprisonment, as well as negligence and that the City is vicariously liable for the officer’s actions during the illegal arrest of Douglas.
Wheeler told Douglas, ‘The worst thing Douglas could do was make a 911 call right in front of the officers,’ and he also stated, ‘What Douglas did was against the law.’ Judge Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong states, ‘It is also undisputed that Wheeler stated multiple times that the detention was due to the engagement in the protected activity.’ Additionally, she states, ‘A jury could find that Douglas was detained for engaging in constitutionally protected activity.’ Judge Frimpong concludes, ‘No reasonable officer could believe that there was probable cause for the detention.”
The case stems from a 2019 incident in which officers falsely arrested veterans advocate Slade Douglas, 46, inside his LA home after reportedly receiving a call for a wellness check.
Upon arriving and entering Douglas’s home with his consent, records show that Douglas refuted the unwarranted retaliatory welfare check, which was based on the malicious, false suicidal allegations against him by the Veterans Affairs (Veteran’s Crisis Line).
Body camera footage, once sealed under a protective order, has now exposed LAPD officers’ unauthorized searches and their unlawful seizure of Douglas, employing threats and force.
Following the false arrest, Douglas sat in the patrol car, handcuffed, for nearly half an hour, complaining about his pain. Officers could be heard laughing and making jokes about Douglas’s statements regarding his disability and dismissing his requests for reasonable accommodation.
The video also captures a paramedic advising the officers: “Take him to the hospital… you need to clear him. That way, it takes all the liability off you guys, takes it off the city.” Next, Douglas was double-cuffed, placed on a gurney, and illegally taken and carried away by ambulance to Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, California.
According to Douglas’s sworn deposition, “he stated that officers told the nurse, ‘Ricky,’ they needed to find something in Douglas’s system to justify his arrest. Ricky agreed to do this and then injected Douglas without his consent.”
At the hospital, records indicate that Douglas was forcibly injected multiple times while still double-cuffed to a gurney. Then, while unconscious from the drugging, he was placed in leather restraints, spread eagle by his arms and ankles in what was described as a torture chamber apparatus. He was subjected to invasive procedures during which his genitals were both touched and grasped, a foreign object (catheter) was forcibly inserted into his penis, and he was threatened with the administration of additional drugs by injection with the intent of extracting information. This reported abuse persisted for over eight hours.
Judge Frimpong, in her ruling’s ‘Findings of Fact’ section, declared: “Upon arriving at the hospital, Wheeler spoke with medical staff, and Douglas received treatment without his consent.”
At the hospital, records confirm that Douglas was subjected to Assault with a Deadly Weapon (Penal Code § 245(a)(1)), sexual battery (Penal Code § 243.4(a)), assault (Penal Code § 240), battery (Penal Code § 242), and false imprisonment (Penal Code §§ 236-237).
The actions of the officers and medical staff are alleged to have violated federal statutes concerning conspiracies against rights (18 U.S.C. § 241), abuses under color of law (18 U.S.C. § 242), and federally protected activities (18 U.S.C. § 245).
Judge Frimpong also stated, “The purpose of a welfare check is for the benefit of the individual at issue, not because they are under suspicion of any crime.”
“The defendants concede that Douglas was engaged in protected speech when he contacted 911 in their presence, deeming it unconstitutional to evoke probable cause to take someone into custody under WIC 5150. The Court notes that these Officers were apparently aware of this legal standard, further undermining their request for qualified immunity,” the judge wrote.
Douglas is represented by nationally renowned civil rights attorney Peter Carr, founder of PLC Law Group, along with prominent civil rights lawyers Lauren McRae and Na’Shaun Neal. A March 25, 2024 trial date has been set.
DNA Testing May Prove Tulsa Victims Of 1921 Race Massacre Have Ties To Texas Families
Genealogists in Oklahoma say some Texas families are related to victims of the 1921 Race Massacre and are looking to compare their DNA
Victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre may have ties to Texas families, according to a report from Fox 26. Genealogists in Oklahoma are looking for Texas families with the last name of Bremby (also spelled Brimbry, Bembry, and Brembry ) located in Sealy and Austin County; Traylor family members in Bowie County; and the Davis family in Kaufman, Texas.
The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre is summarized on Intermountain Forensics’s website: “On June 1, 1921, it is estimated that hundreds of Black residents and businesspersons in the Greenwood District of Tulsa were slain in one of the worst single-incident acts of racial violence in United States history. More than 1,200 homes were burned, and nearly all of the businesses in the thriving “Black Wall Street” were destroyed.”
According to Alison Wilde, genealogy case manager for the Tulsa Race Massacre Mass Graves Project, “Being able to provide any information to the community on the Tulsa race massacre, the victims, about the events of 1921 is such an important task.” Wilde also indicated that many people in the Greenwood area, which contained Black Wall Street, actually hailed from Texas, saying, “You’ll see a great number of them, a very high percentage were born in the state of Texas.”
In 2021, Tulsa decided to start excavating and searching for the remains of those killed during the massacre. In the two years since, they have found several unmarked graves of those they believe are victims and have been searching for ways to notify and also connect with those families.
Wilde told Fox 26, “The response from Texas has been fantastic, and if we could get the same response from Brimby and Trailor family, that would be awesome.”
Wilde encourages anyone who believes they may be connected to the families killed during the race massacre in Tulsa to get a DNA test and submit it to GEDMatch so it can be compared to victim samples that the organization has in its records.
Tennessee’s Stringent Voting Laws Disenfranchise 21% Of Black Voters, Report
Tennessee is also the only state in the country where if you are an ex-felon and behind on your child support payments, you can't vote.
Tennessee’s strict voting laws have effectively disenfranchised 21% of the state’s Black voters by making voting right restoration for those convicted of felony offenses cumbersome, according to a report from ProPublica. Not only does the state have a long list of requirements, which includes paying any court costs or restitution, but they have to either seek a pardon from the governor or pay to petition a judge to hear their case. Tennessee is also the only state in the country where if you are an ex-felon and behind on your child support payments, you can’t vote.
In a statement to ProPublica, Republican Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton defended the the state’s policies.
“If someone’s not paying or behind on their child support payment, that’s an issue,” he told ProPublica. “That’s an issue for that child, that’s an issue for that family, not having the things that they agreed to in court to help them for that child.”
Sexton also doubled down when informed that Tennessee is the only state with that stipulation, saying, “Maybe Tennessee is doing it correctly and the others are not.”
In 2019, two Republican legislators tried to tackle the problem with a bill that would have automatically restored voting rights once a person had completed their sentence and paid their debt to society. The bill had bipartisan support and support from groups like Americans for Prosperity and the Tennessee American Civil Liberties Union, but lawmakers allowed the bill to die.
A similar bill was sponsored in 2021, this time by two Democrats, but it met the same fate as its predecessor. One of the bill’s sponsors, Rep. Brenda Gillmore, told ProPublica, “We said we wanted to do criminal justice reform, but all we’ve done is really nibbled around the edges.”
As Michael Moore, a Tennessean who has been trying to have his voting rights restored for two years, told Bolts, “I feel like it’d make me a whole citizen again, getting my voting rights. I’m hurt looking at the people voting, and I wish I could make a local difference in my community.”
Moore added, “They’re making it near impossible. I think it’s by design. Once they open a door, they put out another block.”
There is, however, a lawsuit against the state’s voting rights restoration process filed by the Tennessee NAACP, which claims that Tennessee is violating the Constitution’s guarantee of due process and equal protection rights contained in the 14th Amendment. According to ProPublica, the state is denying that its process is inaccessible in court documents. According to the Tennessee Lookout, in August, lawyers representing the Tennessee Attorney General’s office filed to have the Tennessee NAACP’S case dismissed. In October, Blair Bowie, an attorney representing the NAACP from the Campaign Legal Center, told the Lookout, “The Elections Division, TDOC, and Governor’s office had the opportunity this summer to create accessible, transparent, and uniform procedures to allow the over 470,000 disenfranchised Tennesseans a fair shot at getting their voting rights restored and rejoining their communities as full citizens.”
Bowie added, “Instead, they blew up the voting rights restoration system entirely and imposed effectively permanent disenfranchisement on July 21.”
Kathy Sinback, the executive director of the Tennessee ACLU, described the impact of Tennessee’s strict voting laws to Bolts, “Even under the old procedure, less than one percent of people who had felonies were able to get their voting rights restored because of just a morass of bureaucracy.”
Russell Westbrook Goes Off On Fan In Heated Exchange Courtside
Russell Westbrook again showed he does not tolerate disrespect from fans.
Russell Westbrook does not tolerate disrespect from fans, other NBA players, or the media, something he has made obvious throughout his career.
This stance was on full display during the Los Angeles Clippers’ recent game against the Denver Nuggets as the Clippers guard appeared to get into a back-and-forth shouting match with a fan near half-court, according to Sports Illustrated.
Following the game, Westbrook explained his actions: “It’s unfortunate, fans think they can get away with saying whatever they want, and personally, I won’t allow it. I took a lot of people saying anything and, you know, getting away with it, but I won’t stand for it.”
Westbrook did not reveal what the fan said to him but indicated that he wouldn’t repeat it because it wasn’t appropriate to say during the locker room chat with local and national sports reporters.
In 2019, while a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Westbrook got into a verbal altercation with a fan while playing against the Utah Jazz at the Vivint Arena in Utah. The NBA fined Westbrook $25,000 for “directing profanity and threatening language to a fan,” The Guardian reported. The fan, whom the Utah Jazz described as engaging in “excessive and derogatory verbal abuse” toward Westbrook, was banned for life from all arena events.
Westbrook allegedly told the man, “I promise you. You think I’m playing. I swear to God, I swear to God, I’ll fuck you up. You and your wife, I’ll fuck you up.”
After that game four years ago, Westbrook was more thoughtful about fan interactions, telling reporters, “There’s got to be something done,” Westbrook said. “There’s got to be some consequences for those type of people that come to the game just to say and do whatever they want to say. I don’t think it’s fair to the players.”
Fans have recently been at the center of several stories, such as during a San Antonio Spurs game, also against the Clippers. Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich reached over and grabbed the PA microphone to tell his team’s fans to stop booing Kawhi Leonard every time he touched the ball. Popovich said he thought it showed a lack of class. After the game, the elder statesman of NBA coaches addressed the media about the incident.
“Anybody that knows anything about sports, you don’t poke the bear,” he said, failing to clarify.
Study: 68% of U.S. Microbusinesses Owned By Black Entrepreneurs Are Black Women
Black women are about their business this year.
Black women entrepreneurs have increased their presence in the microbusiness sector.
According to an entrepreneur survey by GoDaddy Venture Forward, which documented data from 6,000 small businesses across the United States and the United Kingdom, out of the 15% of U.S. microbusinesses owned by Black entrepreneurs in 2023, Black women-owned 68%.
Results in the U.K. were similar to those in the U.S. Out of the 5% of Black-owned microbusinesses, Black women-owned 60%.
Venture Forward, launched in 2018, collected the data as part of its 10th national survey.
“Most of these businesses employ fewer than 10 people, classifying them as a microbusiness,” the report stated. “While they may be small, their economic impact is outsized even though they often don’t show up in traditional government statistics.”
Marketing and access to capital were at the top of the list of challenges respondents faced when starting their businesses, according to the research initiative’s survey. According to the Harvard Business Review, Black women entrepreneurs face several challenges sustaining their businesses. The 2021 research found that access to capital and key resources vital for entrepreneurship were unevenly distributed in the U.S., “reinforcing the advantage of certain groups while impeding the entry and catching-up of disadvantaged groups.”
Companies such as JPMorgan Chase have committed to providing grants to support Black women entrepreneurs in scaling their businesses and thriving in the entrepreneurial space. Goldman Sachs recently launched its 2023 One Million Black Women Cohort, an initiative that aims to address gender and racial biases that Black women have encountered for years.
Grants tailored to Black women-owned businesses are helping bridge the funding gap and overcome racial biases. However, according to Forbes, Black women have also found success in entrepreneurship by acquiring existing businesses. With only 3% of Black women running mature businesses, buying and scaling established companies has presented more tremendous success.
“Instead of starting a company from scratch, purchasing an existing business is more affordable and less risky,” said Giac Capital CEO James Giacopelli. “Financially, you only consider actual profit and loss records instead of rough estimates. You get a clear history of previous sales to refer to. With a purchased business, you can also acquire valuable copyrights and patents. Finally, you can lead a declining business in the right direction with your creative ideas.”
Acquiring an affordable company offers Black women an advantageous option for launching their careers in entrepreneurship.
10 Entrepreneurial Success Tips From Powerful Black Business Women
Here are some key lessons learned from the 20th annual Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Summit.
Originally Published May 22, 2015
More than 1,000 of the nation’s top African American entrepreneurs and executives convened in Atlanta at the 20th annual BLACK ENTERPRISEEntrepreneurs Summit, hosted by Nationwide Insurance. Several powerhouse women business owners graced the main stage and panels, sharing their lessons about starting, growing, and scaling a successful business.
All the speakers agreed that entrepreneurs need to be focused and fearless to succeed and stressed that opportunity often comes out of crisis.
For nearly 20 years, African American women have been entrepreneurial pioneers. At the time of this reporting, Black women started firms at a rate six times higher than the national average but experienced a decline.
For aspiring and existing business owners, here are 10 entrepreneurial success tips from some of the most successful Black women in business.
Lisa Nichols – CEO of Motivating The Masses
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – MARCH 05: Lisa Nichols, CEO of Motivating the Masses poses for a picture during the 2022 Disney Dreamers Academy at Walt Disney World Resort on March 05, 2022 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images for Disney Dreamers Academy)
“Your vision is yours; let your family off the hook. God gave you the vision for your dream biz, not them.”
“Play big or go home. Play big to the point where you scare yourself.”
Necole Parker – CEO The Elocen Group
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 20: Necole Parker and Tony Lewis Jr. attend The Harvest 3rd Annual Thanksgiving Drive at Tyler House on November 20, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brian Stukes/Getty Images)
“Always pivot to grow as a small business owner.”
“Having business mentors is key to growing your business.”
Egypt Sherrod
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 11: Egypt Sherrod attends the season 2 screening of HGTV’s “Married To Real Estate” at MODEx Studios on January 11, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
“If you make yourself an expert in your field, it will organically help you expand your brand and your business.”
“You have to live your life and run your business in the spirit of service–trustworthy service.”
“You can tell people who you are, or you can show them who you are–it’s the latter [that counts].”
Kim Kimble – Owner of Kim Kimble Salons
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 07: Celebrity Hairstylist Kim Kimble poses for a picture backstage during ESSENCE House: Hollywood Edition at NeueHouse Los Angeles on February 07, 2020 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
“Faith without works is dead–you have to put in the work and take control for the success of your business.”
“Learn how to give as much as you take. Bring something to the table.”
“Lesson learned: when creating a new product line, start small–create & test a few products first. Not a whole line.”
Rapper Nardo Wick Denies Involvement In Assault Of Fan Who Asked For A Photo
Nardo Wick, real name Horace Bernard Walls III, faces scrutiny as two members of his crew are alleged to have brutally assaulted a fan seeking a photo.
Daily Mailreports rapper Nardo Wick, real name Horace Bernard Walls III, faces scrutiny as two members of his crew allegedly brutally assaulted a fan seeking a photo on the night of Nov. 27. The victim, 20-year-old George Obregon Jr., suffered critical injuries, including a severe concussion and brain bleeding, after the attack in Tampa, Florida.
Wick, addressing the allegations on Instagram, distanced himself from the assault, claiming ignorance and offering support to the victim’s family. “I don’t stand with the situation that happened,” he stated, emphasizing his commitment to making amends.
However, footage of the incident, captured on Green Light cameras, showed Obregon approaching Nardo Wick before being sucker-punched and brutally assaulted, allegedly by members of Wick’s entourage. Despite the rapper’s attempt to intervene, the attackers continued their assault, leaving Obregon hospitalized, according to the video.
Tampa police have launched a search for the assailants, releasing images and urging the public’s assistance. Wick’s manager denied claims of the attackers being directly affiliated with the rapper.
Despite Wick’s public condemnation, criticism from fans and the victim’s family persists. Social media comments called attention to the rapper’s perceived inaction during the assault. Obregon’s family has taken to social media, demanding justice and highlighting the severity of the unprovoked attack.
You know what he didn't do? Take those two violent cowards to jail and have them press charges. He just doesn't want to get sued. He only cares about himself. Clowns
Your his Boss. Your responsible. Way to hire a fricken adult or actual authentic bodyguard. Do some grown up homework for once and vet people accordingly. You have a chance to leave a positive mark on your followers and touch them deeply without what just happened.…
Tampa police reported that Obregon is stable but in critical condition, with the long-term impact of his injuries unclear. Wick’s Instagram has been flooded with both supportive and condemning comments, reflecting the polarized reactions within his fan base.
The rapper, known for his 2021 hit “Who Want Smoke” and collaborations with artists like 21 Savage and Lil Baby, now faces both legal and public relations challenges in the aftermath of the assault.
