Latest news with #Krause
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Some global LGBTQ travelers are skipping America this Pride season
For many European gays, the festive Eurovision Song Contest each May marks the unofficial kickoff to the global Pride season. As usual, there were soaring highlights and scandalous lowlights among the competing Eurovision nations at the 2025 edition of the contest in Basel, Switzerland, this month. But another country was on the lips of many queer jet-setters this year: the United States, with its spate of new anti-trans and anti-immigrant policies that are causing some LGBTQ travelers to reconsider their upcoming American itineraries. Several European countries, including Denmark, Finland and Germany, have issued official cautions for LGBTQ travelers visiting the U.S., particularly those with an 'X' gender listed on their passport. Meanwhile, out of concerns for participant safety, Canada's leading LGBTQ rights group, Egale Canada, pulled out of participation in WorldPride DC, and the African Human Rights Coalition has called for a boycott of this edition of the international Pride event, coordinated by InterPride and usually held every two years. 'It doesn't feel right to at the moment,' Karl Krause told NBC News at Eurovision in Basel, referring to travel to the U.S. Krause, who is German by birth, lives in Amsterdam with his Dutch partner, Daan Colijn, and together they are travel-focused content creators known to their followers as Couple of Men. In 2021, Lonely Planet awarded them its first Best in Travel LGBTIQ Storyteller Award, a nod to their work for the LGBTQ community. 'As gay men traveling to the U.S., we are probably still the more privileged part of the community,' Krause said. 'But we had some interesting conversations recently in Bilbao with a trans person who was like, 'I cannot, I literally cannot travel to the U.S., because I have no idea how they would receive my diverse passport, if I would be put in detention or whatever. I have my little daughter — I'm not going to risk any of this.'' Krause said that was the moment he realized that while he and Colijn as gay men may not yet be feeling the full effects of the Trump administration's policies, they were already having an impact on other travelers within the LGBTQ community. 'So how can we in good feeling promote this destination?' he asked. 'How can I send a trans friend or nonbinary friend and try to inspire them to go to the U.S. when they are in what's supposed to be the best time of their year, to spend in a country where they don't feel safe?' Colijn added that he and Krause want to send their followers 'somewhere where they are safe, where they feel welcome.' 'At the moment, of course a lot of people will still feel very, very welcome in the majority of America — a lot of places are still the same, or maybe even trying to do better. But we just want to be careful in what we are supporting,' Colijn said. John Tanzella, president and CEO of the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association, or IGLTA, told NBC News that such concerns are commonplace this year. 'We've heard from travelers feeling uncertain about visiting the U.S., especially trans and gender-diverse individuals,' he said. 'These decisions are often driven by concerns about safety, treatment at the border and access to affirming health care. Some have canceled their trips. Many others are still coming, but they're being more selective about where they go.' Nicoló Manfredini, an Italian trans man living in Valencia, Spain, said he was recently able to enter the U.S. without incident thanks to having an 'M' marker on his passport, but the government's anti-trans policies currently make America a place he would rather not visit again. 'Originally I had planned to go to WorldPride, but not now,' he said. Given the current environment in the U.S., Manfredini added, he said he would only travel to the U.S. if he had to do so for work. Even American gender-diverse people are adjusting their travel plans because of Trump administration policies, according to a study released earlier this month by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law. Of the more than 300 transgender, nonbinary and other gender-diverse people surveyed, 70% said they are less likely to go on vacation to U.S. states they view as less trans-affirming. Krause said that despite usually attending at least one and sometimes several U.S. Pride events every year, this year will be different. 'We were actually planning to go to Washington, D.C., for WorldPride, but this is off the table for us … How safe can we be in Washington? Just saying that scares me a little bit,' he said, noting the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol was particularly concerning. 'I don't know what is going on there now and who is coming, and I don't feel safe with the idea that I'm going there and I'm walking and maybe there is a mob [coming] from whatever direction.' Capital Pride Alliance, the organizers behind WorldPride DC, which started earlier this month and continues through June 8, did not respond to requests for comment from NBC News, but the event's website details security protocols and includes a passport advisory for transgender and nonbinary travelers. Sahand Miraminy, director of operations for Capital Pride Alliance, told The Washington Post this week that security measures at WorldPride DC will include weapons screening at the entrance to the street festival June 7 and 8, which will also be fenced in. In addition to the local and federal "agency support that we have, we also hire private security and have many forms of safety measures and surveillance that we may not share at all times with the public,' he said, 'but there are certainly conversations that we're having with those agencies on a weekly basis.' Organizers at NYC Pride, arguably the most globally popular of U.S. Pride events each year and held like most big cities during Pride Month in June, are also stepping up security plans for 2025. 'NYC Pride has contracted a private firm with vast experience managing LGBTQIA+ events to lead on-site security,' spokesperson Kevin Kilbride said. 'Given the size and visibility of our events, NYC Pride is monitored and secured by municipal agencies at every level of government to protect our freedom of expression and ensure a safe space for our community.' Tanzella said that since safety is unfortunately never guaranteed for the LGBTQ community, careful planning is more essential than ever for LGBTQ travelers coming to the U.S. this year. 'Research destinations with strong reputations for inclusion and visible LGBTQ+ support,' he advised. 'Connect with local LGBTQ+ organizations for on-the-ground insights, stay informed about local laws and current events, and have a plan for accessing affirming health care if needed. Most importantly, prioritize places where you feel respected and supported.' Cities and states with long-standing reputations for LGBTQ inclusivity are getting more attention, Tanzella added. 'In this climate, a destination's visible commitment to inclusion through its policies, community engagement, and public support truly matters,' he said. In October, the IGLTA will host its annual global convention in Palm Springs, California, a destination Colijn said he and Krause can and will enthusiastically visit. 'We were there just last year, and we felt how amazing and welcome and how much old queer culture is there,' he said. 'So of course we want to go there, and we can fully tell people to go there. Unless of course we might get in trouble at the border.' Krause, however, noted that he and Colijn still haven't booked their Palm Springs trip just yet, because they fear that under the Trump administration 'everything can change overnight.' 'There is no long-term planning,' he said. Kilbride said he understands the need global queer travelers feel to exhibit caution this year, but he said he believes Pride remains one of the most powerful tools in the collective struggle for equality. 'We stand with the international LGBTIA+ community, particularly our trans and nonbinary siblings,' he said. 'But we also believe the fight for our community is more important now than ever. We need to show up big to make it clear: We're here, we're queer, and we're not going anywhere.' This article was originally published on
NBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Some global LGBTQ travelers are skipping America this Pride season
For many European gays, the festive Eurovision Song Contest each May marks the unofficial kickoff to the global Pride season. As usual, there were soaring highlights and scandalous lowlights among the competing Eurovision nations at the 2025 edition of the contest in Basel, Switzerland, this month. But another country was on the lips of many queer jet-setters this year: the United States, with its spate of new anti-trans and anti-immigrant policies that are causing some LGBTQ travelers to reconsider their upcoming American itineraries. Several European countries, including Denmark, Finland and Germany, have issued official cautions for LGBTQ travelers visiting the U.S., particularly those with an 'X' gender listed on their passport. Meanwhile, out of concerns for participant safety, Canada's leading LGBTQ rights group, Egale Canada, pulled out of participation in WorldPride DC, and the African Human Rights Coalition has called for a boycott of this edition of the international Pride event, coordinated by InterPride and usually held every two years. 'It doesn't feel right to at the moment,' Karl Krause told NBC News at Eurovision in Basel, referring to travel to the U.S. Krause, who is German by birth, lives in Amsterdam with his Dutch partner, Daan Colijn, and together they are travel-focused content creators known to their followers as Couple of Men. In 2021, Lonely Planet awarded them its first Best in Travel LGBTIQ Storyteller Award, a nod to their work for the LGBTQ community. 'As gay men traveling to the U.S., we are probably still the more privileged part of the community,' Krause said. 'But we had some interesting conversations recently in Bilbao with a trans person who was like, 'I cannot, I literally cannot travel to the U.S., because I have no idea how they would receive my diverse passport, if I would be put in detention or whatever. I have my little daughter — I'm not going to risk any of this.'' Krause said that was the moment he realized that while he and Colijn as gay men may not yet be feeling the full effects of the Trump administration's policies, they were already having an impact on other travelers within the LGBTQ community. 'So how can we in good feeling promote this destination?' he asked. 'How can I send a trans friend or nonbinary friend and try to inspire them to go to the U.S. when they are in what's supposed to be the best time of their year, to spend in a country where they don't feel safe?' Colijn added that he and Krause want to send their followers 'somewhere where they are safe, where they feel welcome.' 'At the moment, of course a lot of people will still feel very, very welcome in the majority of America — a lot of places are still the same, or maybe even trying to do better. But we just want to be careful in what we are supporting,' Colijn said. John Tanzella, president and CEO of the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association, or IGLTA, told NBC News that such concerns are commonplace this year. 'We've heard from travelers feeling uncertain about visiting the U.S., especially trans and gender-diverse individuals,' he said. 'These decisions are often driven by concerns about safety, treatment at the border and access to affirming health care. Some have canceled their trips. Many others are still coming, but they're being more selective about where they go.' Nicoló Manfredini, an Italian trans man living in Valencia, Spain, said he was recently able to enter the U.S. without incident thanks to having an 'M' marker on his passport, but the government's anti-trans policies currently make America a place he would rather not visit again. 'Originally I had planned to go to WorldPride, but not now,' he said. Given the current environment in the U.S., Manfredini added, he said he would only travel to the U.S. if he had to do so for work. Even American gender-diverse people are adjusting their travel plans because of Trump administration policies, according to a study released earlier this month by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law. Of the more than 300 transgender, nonbinary and other gender-diverse people surveyed, 70% said they are less likely to go on vacation to U.S. states they view as less trans-affirming. Krause said that despite usually attending at least one and sometimes several U.S. Pride events every year, this year will be different. 'We were actually planning to go to Washington, D.C., for WorldPride, but this is off the table for us … How safe can we be in Washington? Just saying that scares me a little bit,' he said, noting the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol was particularly concerning. 'I don't know what is going on there now and who is coming, and I don't feel safe with the idea that I'm going there and I'm walking and maybe there is a mob [coming] from whatever direction.' Capital Pride Alliance, the organizers behind WorldPride DC, which started earlier this month and continues through June 8, did not respond to requests for comment from NBC News, but the event's website details security protocols and includes a passport advisory for transgender and nonbinary travelers. Sahand Miraminy, director of operations for Capital Pride Alliance, told The Washington Post this week that security measures at WorldPride DC will include weapons screening at the entrance to the street festival June 7 and 8, which will also be fenced in. In addition to the local and federal "agency support that we have, we also hire private security and have many forms of safety measures and surveillance that we may not share at all times with the public,' he said, 'but there are certainly conversations that we're having with those agencies on a weekly basis.' Organizers at NYC Pride, arguably the most globally popular of U.S. Pride events each year and held like most big cities during Pride Month in June, are also stepping up security plans for 2025. 'NYC Pride has contracted a private firm with vast experience managing LGBTQIA+ events to lead on-site security,' spokesperson Kevin Kilbride said. 'Given the size and visibility of our events, NYC Pride is monitored and secured by municipal agencies at every level of government to protect our freedom of expression and ensure a safe space for our community.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Grandfather dies saving twin granddaughters from falling tree limb in Dacula
A 78-year-old Dacula man died Wednesday after pushing his twin 8-year-old granddaughters and his sister out of the way of a massive falling tree limb, his family says. Manuel Javier Pinzon was with the girls around noon on Ewing Chapel Road when they discovered a small animal in his backyard. The twins had been excited about their find, sending pictures to family members. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] 'My girls found a baby deer in the backyard. They've been playing back here for years,' said Jason Krause, Pinzon's son-in-law. Pinzon and his sister joined the girls to help give the deer water. That's when they heard a loud cracking sound from above. 'There was a very loud cracking sound, crashing. Cracking is kind of how they described it, and they got shoved out of the way. Then when they turned back, he had gotten them out of the way and taken the full hit of a falling branch, a falling limb on his head, and he didn't make it,' Krause said. The 20-foot branch had broken off about 80 feet up from a massive tree. Krause estimates it weighed 75 to 85 pounds. Eight-year-old Gabriela grabbed her grandfather's phone and called 911, her small hands covered in blood as she followed the operator's instructions. Her twin sister Isabella ran for help from adults inside the house. 'My other aunt came out here, and I told her to pass me the phone, and I called 911 and they just told me what to do,' Gabriela said through tears. Pinzon was rushed to Northside Hospital Gwinnett, where he died about four hours later. The heroic sacrifice was not the first time Pinzon had saved his family. Nearly 30 years ago, he fled Colombia with his wife and daughters after political violence claimed his mother's life, bringing them to safety in America. He is remembered as someone who put others first until the very end. 'He chose to protect his sister and these two girls instead of himself. And I don't think that should be forgotten. He was a hero,' Krause said. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Democrat Bob Krause announces run for Iowa's 1st Congressional District
May 29—Bob Krause, a former state legislator, announced this week he will be running for Congress as a Democrat to oust the 1st Congressional District's Republican incumbent, U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks. In a May 26 press release, he launched the slogan: "Flip The House With Krause." To him and his campaign, that rallying cry serves as a reminder to voters that control of the entire U.S. House of Representatives hinges on just a few key races. It also reinforces just how competitive and volatile Iowa's first congressional district has been ever since Miller-Meeks was first elected in 2020. It was that same year that widespread recounts determined Miller-Meeks won against Democrat Rita Hart by only six votes. In 2024, Miller-Meeks narrowly retained her seat once again, albeit not as close as her race against Hart; Miller-Meeks won against Democrat Christina Bohannan by less than 800 votes. Republicans in the district were forced to choose between Miller-Meeks and challenger David Pautsch in the primary. Even though Miller-Meeks won with a 12-point lead, Pautsch felt he had a strong showing getting 44 percent of the vote with only six months of work. Pautsch announced in February he's running again. Which makes Krause the third person to announce a campaign for the seat. Krause believes he can beat the incumbent congresswoman and block President Donald Trump's "destructive agenda to implement a reverse-Robin Hood on our nation" that he alleged will impoverish many Iowans and enrich the very few. "It is no secret that incumbent Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks votes like Trump's rubber stamp," Krause said in his press release. "Extremists who appear set on destroying our democracy are given a huge institutional advantage simply because she is part of the House GOP. "That House GOP has surrendered the constitutionally authorized power of Congress and the courts to appropriate, tax and provide for due process of law and public participation through our elected officials. This ceding of power has become simply a slower version of the attempted coup of Jan. 6, 2021." Krause said he will not remain silent as Trump "bypasses Congress" and dismantles critical programs to Iowa's 1st Congressional District without the consent of elected representatives and due process. The candidate stressed this election is vital "to the future of Iowa and the nation." If elected, Krause said he would uphold the Constitution and fight for policies that benefit workers, farmers and families. He is in favor of the reversing inequitable tax cuts and preserving Social Security benefits. He also wants to provide essential services for a safe, clean and prosperous environment. Krause pledged to defend Iowa's education systems, libraries and social safety nets from further erosion. In the 1970s, Krause served in the Iowa House for six years. He then ran an unsuccessful campaign for state treasurer. In 2010, he ran a campaign in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat race against Chuck Grassley, but he lost to fellow party member Roxanne Conlin, who would lose to the incumbent. It wasn't the last time Krause tried to run against Grassley. In 2022, he attempted another race but inevitably withdrew after not receiving enough signatures. He needed 3,500 signatures but only acquired around 1,400. He blamed it partly on the precinct caucuses being held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to his experience as a lawmaker, Krause is a retired colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve and Iowa Army National Guard. He previously served as a school board member in Waterloo and is president of the Veterans National Recovery Center. He is married to Vicky Krause and has a large, blended family.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Iowa Democrat Bob Krause announces campaign for Miller-Meeks' 1st District congress seat
Former Iowa legislator Bob Krause has announced a campaign for Congress in Iowa's 1st District, saying he would run to help block Republican President Donald Trump's "destructive agenda." Krause, a Democrat, served three terms in the Iowa House of Representatives and is the president of the Veterans National Recovery Center. He called incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks a "rubber stamp" for Trump. 'Extremists who appear set on destroying our democracy are given a huge institutional advantage simply because she is part of the House GOP," Krause said in a news release. "That House GOP has surrendered the constitutionally authorized power of Congress and the Courts to appropriate, tax, and provide for due process of law and public participation through our elected officials. This ceding of power has become simply a slower version of the attempted coup of January 6th, 2021." In a news release, Krause said he would favor reversing "inequitable" tax cuts, preserving Social Security, protecting the environment and defending education and social safety net programs. Krause unsuccessfully sought his party's nomination for the U.S. Senate in 2010 and 2016. And in 2022, he withdrew from the U.S. Senate Democratic primary race after failing to gain enough signatures to make it onto the ballot. "If losing elections were an Olympic Sport, Bob Krause takes home the Gold Medal," a spokesperson for Miller-Meeks said in a statement. "Iowans have rejected Democrats and elected Dr. Miller-Meeks three times to Congress. She will continue to work with President Trump to deliver tax cuts, secure the border, strengthen and preserve Medicaid, protect women's sports, and keep the Chinese Communist Party from purchasing Iowa farmland." National Democrats have targeted Iowa's 1st District as a key battleground in 2026 after Miller-Meeks won her 2024 reelection by about 800 votes. Krause is the second Democrat to launch a primary campaign in the 1st District, which covers the southeastern corner of the state. Travis Terrell, a Democrat and University of Iowa Health Care employee from Johnson County, announced in April he would also seek the seat. "With all due respect to Bob Krause, who I'm sure means well," Terrell said in a Facebook post. "The last thing Congress needs is another 80-year-old man telling us how to fix a future he won't be around to face." But Miller-Meeks will also face a challenge on her right. David Pautsch, a Davenport Republican, launched a primary campaign in the district earlier this year. Pautsch is a businessman and the founder of the Quad Cities Prayer Breakfast. He came within 12 percentage points of Miller-Meeks in a 2024 primary race. Miller-Meeks started off the year with strong fundraising, which would give her an edge going into a primary and general election. She tallied more than $1 million in receipts during the first quarter of the year. 'Iowans rejected Bob Krause half a century ago when disco was cool and Jimmy Carter was in the White House," National Republican Campaign Committee spokesperson Emily Tuttle said in a statement. "If he's the best Democrats can dredge up, it's clear they've hit rock bottom in their pathetic attempt to unseat Mariannette Miller-Meeks." Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach her at bpfann@ or 515-284-8244. Follow her on X at @brianneDMR. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Democrat Bob Krause announces 1st District congressional campaign
