NEWS: Gay Rhino In UK, Book Ban In IL, Worst-Dressed City in U.S., And More!

Southside, the gay village in Birmingham, England, is now home to a life-size Rhinestone Rhino sculpture, which stands atop a roof at Hurst and Bromsgrove Streets. Unveiled just before Birmingham Pride this weekend, the £15,000 public-art display is actually fiberglass covered with smashed mirror bits and dozens of fake diamonds. “We’re immensely proud of it and feel like proud parents but know that it now belongs to the community,” said artist Emma Butler. [Birmingham Mail]

Beating out places like Salt Lake City (#2) Orlando (#4)  and Dallas (#6), Anchorage, Alaska, was named the worst dressed city in America in a recent survey listing the Top 10 offenders.”It’s not uncommon to see oversized parkas with fur-lined hoods and bunny boots, and people aren’t alarmed when a person wearing a ski mask enters a room,” said one commenter. [Atlanta Business Chronicle]

A school board in Erie, IL, has banned Todd Parr’s The Family Book—which explores different types of family structures—because it mentions some clans have two moms or two dads. “Parents voiced a concern that those are issues that shouldn’t be taught at the elementary-school level, not that those aren’t discussed at other grade levels,” said Erie School District Superintendent Bradley Cox. [Joe.My.God]

For the first time, members of the LGBT community will be allowed to march in New York’s annual Israel Day Parade, being held on Sunday. The parade, believed to be the largest Jewish event in the world, had previously excluded explicitly gay groups from marching but now a large contingent is expected, including members of the queer-inclusive synagogue Congregation Beit Simchat Torah.  [CBST]

 

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