Accessibility Statement Skip Navigation
  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing
  • Login
  • GDPR
  • Create a Free Account
Return to PRWeb homepage
  • News
  • Resources
  • Contact
When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type.

Searching for your content...

No results found. Please change your search terms and try again.
  • News in Focus
      • Browse News Releases

      • All News Releases
      • Multimedia Gallery

      • All Multimedia
      • All Photos
      • All Videos
  • Business & Money
      • Auto & Transportation

      • Aerospace, Defense
      • Air Freight
      • Airlines & Aviation
      • Automotive
      • Maritime & Shipbuilding
      • Railroads and Intermodal Transportation
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Transportation, Trucking & Railroad
      • Travel
      • Trucking and Road Transportation
      • View All Auto & Transportation

      • Business Technology

      • Blockchain
      • Broadcast Tech
      • Computer & Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Components
      • Electronic Design Automation
      • Financial Technology
      • High Tech Security
      • Internet Technology
      • Nanotechnology
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Semiconductors
      • View All Business Technology

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Financial Services & Investing

      • Accounting News & Issues
      • Acquisitions, Mergers and Takeovers
      • Banking & Financial Services
      • Bankruptcy
      • Bond & Stock Ratings
      • Conference Call Announcements
      • Contracts
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Dividends
      • Earnings
      • Earnings Forecasts & Projections
      • Financing Agreements
      • Insurance
      • Investments Opinions
      • Joint Ventures
      • Mutual Funds
      • Private Placement
      • Real Estate
      • Restructuring & Recapitalization
      • Sales Reports
      • Shareholder Activism
      • Shareholder Meetings
      • Stock Offering
      • Stock Split
      • Venture Capital
      • View All Financial Services & Investing

      • General Business

      • Awards
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Corporate Expansion
      • Earnings
      • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
      • Human Resource & Workforce Management
      • Licensing
      • New Products & Services
      • Obituaries
      • Outsourcing Businesses
      • Overseas Real Estate (non-US)
      • Personnel Announcements
      • Real Estate Transactions
      • Residential Real Estate
      • Small Business Services
      • Socially Responsible Investing
      • Surveys, Polls and Research
      • Trade Show News
      • View All General Business

  • Science & Tech
      • Consumer Technology

      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing/Internet of Things
      • Computer Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Consumer Electronics
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Gaming
      • Financial Technology
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Multimedia & Internet
      • Peripherals
      • Social Media
      • STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Consumer Technology

      • Energy & Natural Resources

      • Alternative Energies
      • Chemical
      • Electrical Utilities
      • Gas
      • General Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Oil & Energy
      • Oil and Gas Discoveries
      • Utilities
      • Water Utilities
      • View All Energy & Natural Resources

      • Environ­ment

      • Conservation & Recycling
      • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Policy
      • Environmental Products & Services
      • Green Technology
      • Natural Disasters
      • View All Environ­ment

      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Aerospace & Defense
      • Agriculture
      • Chemical
      • Construction & Building
      • General Manufacturing
      • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning)
      • Machinery
      • Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Paper, Forest Products & Containers
      • Precious Metals
      • Textiles
      • Tobacco
      • View All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Telecomm­unications

      • Carriers and Services
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Telecommunications Equipment
      • Telecommunications Industry
      • VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Telecomm­unications

  • Lifestyle & Health
      • Consumer Products & Retail

      • Animals & Pets
      • Beers, Wines and Spirits
      • Beverages
      • Bridal Services
      • Cannabis
      • Cosmetics and Personal Care
      • Fashion
      • Food & Beverages
      • Furniture and Furnishings
      • Home Improvement
      • Household, Consumer & Cosmetics
      • Household Products
      • Jewelry
      • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
      • Office Products
      • Organic Food
      • Product Recalls
      • Restaurants
      • Retail
      • Supermarkets
      • Toys
      • View All Consumer Products & Retail

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Health

      • Biometrics
      • Biotechnology
      • Clinical Trials & Medical Discoveries
      • Dentistry
      • FDA Approval
      • Fitness/Wellness
      • Health Care & Hospitals
      • Health Insurance
      • Infection Control
      • International Medical Approval
      • Medical Equipment
      • Medical Pharmaceuticals
      • Mental Health
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Supplementary Medicine
      • View All Health

      • Sports

      • General Sports
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Sporting Events
      • Sports Equipment & Accessories
      • View All Sports

      • Travel

      • Amusement Parks and Tourist Attractions
      • Gambling & Casinos
      • Hotels and Resorts
      • Leisure & Tourism
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Passenger Aviation
      • Travel Industry
      • View All Travel

  • Policy & Public Interest
      • Policy & Public Interest

      • Advocacy Group Opinion
      • Animal Welfare
      • Congressional & Presidential Campaigns
      • Corporate Social Responsibility
      • Domestic Policy
      • Economic News, Trends, Analysis
      • Education
      • Environmental
      • European Government
      • FDA Approval
      • Federal and State Legislation
      • Federal Executive Branch & Agency
      • Foreign Policy & International Affairs
      • Homeland Security
      • Labor & Union
      • Legal Issues
      • Natural Disasters
      • Not For Profit
      • Patent Law
      • Public Safety
      • Trade Policy
      • U.S. State Policy
      • View All Policy & Public Interest

  • People & Culture
      • People & Culture

      • Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American
      • African American
      • Asian American
      • Children
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
      • Hispanic
      • Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual
      • Men's Interest
      • People with Disabilities
      • Religion
      • Senior Citizens
      • Veterans
      • Women
      • View All People & Culture

  • Hamburger menu
  • Cision PRWeb provides efficient communication tools to continuously engage with target audiences across multiple online channels
  • Create a Free Account
    • ALL CONTACT INFO
    • Contact Us


      11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday

  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • News in Focus
    • Browse All News
    • Multimedia Gallery
  • Business & Money
    • Auto & Transportation
    • Business Technology
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Financial Services & Investing
    • General Business
  • Science & Tech
    • Consumer Technology
    • Energy & Natural Resources
    • Environ­ment
    • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
    • Telecomm­unications
  • Lifestyle & Health
    • Consumer Products & Retail
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Health
    • Sports
    • Travel
  • Policy & Public Interest
  • People & Culture
    • People & Culture
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR

Twelve LGBTQ+ Creators Expand the Class Action Lawsuit vs. Google/YouTube

The four new plaintiffs, joining Divino Group LLC and others, are SNL's Greg Scarnici, Stephanie Frosch, independent filmmaker Sal Bardo and Tamara Johnson, CEO of Strong Voices TV Network


News provided by

Divino Group

Nov 13, 2019, 10:45 ET

Share this article

Share toX

Share this article

Share toX

Rainbow Coalition v. Google/YouTube
Rainbow Coalition v. Google/YouTube

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 13, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Divino Group LLC, owner of San Francisco's GlitterBombTV.com, and an expanded group of 12 total LGBTQ+ creators, have filed a First Amendment Complaint in a lawsuit vs. Google/YouTube (Case 5:19-cv-04749-VKD) in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, San Jose Division on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community, a protected class under California law. They are being represented by the law firm Browne George Ross LLP.

Click here to view the full legal filing of the First Amended Complaint.

The First Amended Complaint includes a new freedom of speech claim that alleges that Google/YouTube are using and applying 'subjective, vague, and over-broad criteria which give Defendants unfettered and unbridled discretion to censor speech for arbitrary, capricious, or nonexistent reasons.'

Post this

The First Amended Complaint (FAC) alleges that: the plaintiffs' "legal rights have been violated by Defendants' use of the data regarding users' gender, sexual orientation, religious, ethnic, racial, political and/or commercial and data driven identities and viewpoints, to restrain, discriminate against, economically crush, and cleanse disfavored users from the YouTube Platform in direct violation of the users' civil and consumer rights." [FAC: pages 1-2]

Furthermore, it alleges that: "Google/YouTube's cleansing of independent LGBTQ+ video content creators is not limited to discriminating against those creators and users who identify as, or express LGBTQ+ viewpoints. Documented evidence exists and lawsuits are pending or are being threatened by independent third party video creators and loyal users of the YouTube Platform who have been victimized by Defendants' practices because of the users' race, religion, political affiliations, or commercial status. Google/YouTube is using identity based censorship to determine who can and cannot continue to use the YouTube platform." [FAC: pages 2-3]

The First Amended Complaint includes a new freedom of speech claim that alleges that Google/YouTube are using and applying "subjective, vague, and over-broad criteria which give Defendants unfettered and unbridled discretion to censor speech for arbitrary, capricious, or nonexistent reasons." [FAC: page 102]

It alleges that: "Defendants' actions also violate Plaintiffs' right to free association and assembly by blocking viewers' access to videos and comments." And "Defendants' actions were done with the intent to deprive Plaintiffs and other LGBTQ+ YouTube users of their right to free speech." [FAC: pages 102-103]

It alleges that the: "Defendants are operating a Company Town in which YouTube is designated as the public forum or "town-square" for the community to gather and engage in free speech, expression, communication, and to exchange ideas." [FAC: page 103]

The four new plaintiffs joining the lawsuit vs. Google/YouTube include:

  • Sal Bardo, who owns and operates SalBardo.com. He is an independent filmmaker who directs and produces films for LGBTQ+ audiences. Since 2011, he's promoted the films on his YouTube channel.
  • Stephanie Frosch, who has produced and distributed a series of 189 original videos focused on lifestyle topics, advice, interviews and mini-documentaries that present her experiences as a lesbian, or cover topics and issues of interest to the LGBTQ+ community on her YouTube channel since 2009.
  • Tamara (Sheri) Johnson, who owns and operates the Strong Voices TV Network and serves as its CEO. In 2012, she began developing and producing short videos, original web series, animated series and feature-length films for an LGBTQ+ audience, originally using her YouTube channel for distribution. In 2016, Johnson launched her own on-demand network on the internet that directly competes with the YouTube platform.
  • Greg Scarnici, who owns and operates his own website and has been producing comedic videos for the queer community since 2007 on his YouTube channel. Scarnici is a comedic writer, director, producer and performer who has been employed as an Associate Producer for "Saturday Night Live" for 25 years.

"The LGBTQ+ Plaintiffs are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual or Queer content creators, viewers, users, and consumers of the online global video and social media platform known as "YouTube." Plaintiffs bring this lawsuit to redress Defendants Google/YouTube's past, present, and continuing unlawful restraint of speech, discrimination, consumer fraud, unfair and deceptive business practices, and breach of consumer contract rights on the YouTube Platform, and related services and products offered to consumers in connection with the use of the platform. . . ." [FAC: page 1]

Media Contacts:

Chris Knight at Divino Group
[email protected]
415-786-9226 c.

Sean T. Walsh at WWGR Consulting
[email protected]
415-780-2532 o., 415-203-8991 c.

SOURCE Divino Group

Modal title

Chris Knight and Celso Dulay, husbands and owners of GlitterBombTV in in San Francisco, in early January 2018.
Chris Knight and Celso Dulay, husbands and owners of GlitterBombTV in in San Francisco, in early January 2018.
Chris Knight and Celso Dulay, husbands and owners of GlitterBombTV in in San Francisco, in early January 2018.

Contact PRWeb

  • 11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday
  • Contact Us

About PRWeb

  • About PRWeb
  • Partners
  • Partnership Programs
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Resources

Why PRWeb

  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing

Accounts

  • Create a Free Account
  • Log in
  • Contact Us

Do not sell or share my personal information:

  • Submit via [email protected] 
  • Call Privacy toll-free: 877-297-8921

Contact Cision

Products

About

My Services
  • All News Releases
  • Online Member Center
  • ProfNet
Cision Distribution Helpline
888-776-0942
  • Legal
  • Site Map
  • RSS
  • Cookie Settings
Copyright © 2025 Cision US Inc.