Members of Congress Call for Increase in Funding to Protect LGBT Rights Worldwide
Led by Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. David Cicilline, seven U.S. senators and 46 congressmen signed letters in the last few weeks, pushing for more funding for efforts at the State Department and USAID to help protect the human rights of LGBT people.
HRC.org
Brother Nathanael Is Surprisingly Spry As He Reveals The Jewish Plot To Make America Gay
There are more self-entitled rants on YouTube than there are stars in the sky, but something about Brother Nathanael’s recent video is twinkling a little brighter than the rest today.
We’ve got to admit, he’s got a pretty good look going on. And the background he chose — a forested snowy mountainside — is nothing if not intriguing paired with his Orthodox attire.
But the real crazy train starts when he opens his mouth, spewing out a hateful blend of homophobic, antisemitic conspiracy theorist mush. Some of his other videos have fun titles like “Secrets Of Jewish Money Control,” “The Ebola Dictatorship,” and “Messiah Came To Conquer Death.”
And yet he’s so bouncy about it all, like he’s in on a big secret and giddy to have the chance to share it with us.
Well the jokes on you, Brother Nathanael — you’re a few bricks shy of a load.
Still, we feel sorry for whoever has to sit across a Thanksgiving table with him this week.
Watch here:
Dan Tracer
News: Brangelina, Bill Cosby, Gay Rugby World Cup, Beyonce
The New York Times looks at the “legal golden ratio” that may play a role in a SCOTUS ruling on gay marriage. “Historically, there seems to be a tipping point at which the justices seem more comfortable setting aside state practices…When only a third of the states still retain a practice, the court seems ready to act.”
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie had a big ol’ balcony fight in Australia over the weekend.
Find out when the new Star Wars trailer is set to debut.
Three LGBT advocates were arrested Saturday night at a Equality NC Foundation event after an altercation broke out between gay marriage supporters and a dozen Christian protesters at the scene.
Taylor Swift brought the crazy/fun with her performance of “Blank Space” at last night’s American Music Awards.
Incoming Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell wants to get the Senate working on Fridays again.
The New York Daily News has an exclusive on Jonathan Jesensky, a new FDNY firefighter who previously starred in at least 10 gay adult films.
Lance Bass speaks to ABC News about his upcoming televised marriage to Michael Turchin and the work that still needs to be done to help secure LGBT rights in places like his homestate of Mississippi. “It’s just all about educating,” he said. “That’s all we can do, just start the dialogue and get people talking. Once people learn about this subject and LGBT, it changes people’s mind for the better. It’s not like when people learn about this subject, they go deeper into believing this [stuff].”
The Ferguson grand jury has reportedly reached a decision in the Darren Wilson verdict.
Openly gay teen science prodigy Jack Andraka has a great op-ed over at The Advocate – “How Gay Genius Alan Turing Got Me Through Middle School”
Male model Monday: Danny Beauchamp.
The list of Bill Cosby accusers continues to grow.
5 reasons why Katy Perry was the obvious chioice for Super Bowl halftime performer.
Nashville’s gay rugby team the Nashville Grizzlies have won the bid to host the 2016 world cup of gay rugby.
Queen Bey dropped the “Platinum Edition” of her self-titled album today with new songs and remixes. Check out the Spotify stream here.
Kyler Geoffroy
PARADA LGBT COPACABANA RIO DE JANEIRO 16/11/14
Jennifer Gable, Transgender Woman, Presented As Man At Her Funeral
In a depressing reminder of the times in which we live and how far we still have to go to reach equality for everyone in the LGBT community, an Idaho transgender woman was presented as male in an open-casket funeral service this week.
Jennifer Gable, 32, reportedly died suddenly of a brain aneurysm while working her job at a Wells Fargo Bank on Oct. 9. At her funeral, Gable, who legally changed her name in 2007, was reportedly not referred to as Jennifer once.
Additionally, the late Gable’s family cut her hair short and presented her wearing a suit, and her obituary reportedly skipped the decade of her life she spent transitioning to live authentically as Jennifer.
“I am disgusted,” Stacy Dee Hudson reportedly posted on Facebook. “A great and dear friend’s mom went to the funeral today. It was not closed casket. They cut her hair, suit on. How can they bury her as Geoff when she legally changed her name. So very sad. Jen you will be missed and people who know you know that you are at peace.”
Do you or somebody you love identify as transgender? Don’t let this happen to you — register your final wishes with an attorney.
HRC Mississippi Director: Changing Hearts and Minds in Mississippi
Over the weekend, HRC Mississippi state director Rob Hill took a stand for LGBT equality in The Clarion-Ledger.
HRC.org
WATCH LIVE: Final Show Of Lady Gaga's ArtRAVE Tour
If you missed Lady Gaga’s worldwide tour, you now have a chance to watch her concert for free as Yahoo is livestreaming the final performance of Lady Gaga’s ArtRAVE tour from Paris today. The tour, which started May 4, is listed as the second highest grossing tour of the year with a revenue of $46.9 million, and is expected to top $60 million when all the figures from her last few European dates are taken into account reports Billboard. Despite the lukewarm reception of the album when it was released last year, Newsday, The Hollywood Reporter and The Guardian both gave glowing reviews about the tour and its theatrics commending the heart and intensity Gaga puts into her performances.
If there’s one thing about a Lady Gaga concert, it’s that anything can, and mostly likely will, happen. Over the course of the tour she’s had couples propose to each other on stage, belted out impromptu classic covers and performed songs from her new album with Tony Bennet, “Cheek to Cheek.” The setlist includes fan favorites such as “Bad Romance,” “Paparazzi,” “Just Dance,” and “Born This Way.” Of course it’s not a Gaga show without props including a latex squid outfit, lucite runways, lazer lights and cannabis-shaped confetti.
The livestream of the Paris show can be watched AFTER THE JUMP…
Anthony Costello
Prezi® Presentation: LGBT Students and "Coming Out" by Allison Stow
This video is a Prezi®, converted by PreziTube® Create your own video from your Prezi® at PreziTube click: goo.gl/h3aa0V Title: LGBT Students and "Coming Out" Author: Allison Stow…
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMYWBoSXPc0&feature=youtube_gdata
I Didn't Choose to Be Gay, but I Would!
The other day my friend and I were talking about the ridiculous notion that being gay is a choice rather than a biological disposition. He asked, “What man would choose to be gay? Being straight is so much easier!”
I thought about it for a moment. Is it? Knowing what I know now, I realized that if we did get to pick the team for which to play, I wouldn’t hesitate to choose the team that I am on now.
When you’re gay, you’re like an outsider from day one, before you admit it to the world or even to yourself. You are outside society, looking in, and that particular vantage point is not to be dismissed. It changes your outlook on everything. You don’t buy the party line. You question convention. You’re allowed to react instead of being the stoic straight guy.
You accept all the shades of gray in society with little to no judgment, because you know that most societal misconceptions are just that: misconceptions.
When I was younger, growing up on the farm, it was assumed that I would get married shortly after high school, take over the farm from my father, move into one of the houses on the farm, and have kids to help me on the farm, and that would be that.
Once I came out of the closet to my parents, those expectations died a very quick death.
Suddenly I no longer experienced pressure to buy into the “American dream.” There were no expectations for me to get married, have 2.5 kids, and support my family. I didn’t have to follow all the rules society imposes on straight guys.
Yes, there was bullying and name calling. But that gave me a thick skin and a talent for enduring conflict. I also realized very early on that the taunts were more about the bullies than about me. In fact, I wondered whether it was possible that these bullies were actually, in a subconscious way, envious that I could opt out of the “gender games” so easily.
In fact, I could access my feminine side with little or no conflict and understand concepts that most straight guys dismiss as nonsense.
I also question whether things are truly easier for straight men in our society. Most gay men, sooner or later, get over worrying about what others think. Straight men, on the whole, seem to spend their entire lives worrying about it.
Consider this: Yes, straight men rule the world, but it isn’t all beer and pretzels. Society projects expectations onto straight men to be strong, silent and long-suffering. You’re supposed to put your own life on hold while you have kids (whether your want them or not) and labor to support your family. You’re supposed to dress simply, without imagination. Straight men aren’t supposed to show emotion. Yet their wives want them to do just that.
They’re expected to follow sports. Love cars. Know how to fix everything around the house. They’re expected to kill the spider in the bathroom. Want kids. Open the jars. Shovel the snow. But if you actually enjoy spending time with children, if you cry, you are suspect.
And if you don’t get married, you’re selfish. You’re a player. You’re a Peter Pan who refuses to grow up.
Yet for some reason, people don’t expect gay men to “grow up.” We’re allowed, if not expected, to be unconventional, creative, artistic, well-spoken, well-groomed, well-dressed. We can be artists. And nowadays we can even be so butch that folks wouldn’t guess we’re gay. In fact, now even the more conventional among us can follow straight folks’ lead and get married and have children.
There’s also more freedom in terms of career choices. I worked as a male secretary in my 20s in San Francisco, and it didn’t raise an eyebrow. We aren’t surprised to see gay men in professions that used to be reserved just for the ladies 50 years ago: teacher, flight attendant, nurse, nanny. It seems totally acceptable for us to be in those roles, yet I’d bet straight male nurses still get some crap from their straight buddies!
Yes, we still have our own set of challenges. But save your pity for straight men. I’m happy. I’m gay. I’m happy I’m gay. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Leon Acord is the creator, writer, and star of the gay Web series Old Dogs & New Tricks, currently in its third season. Check it out at odnt.tv.
A Muslim Father’s Touching Response to Daughter’s Coming Out
The decision to come out to family and friends is one of the most difficult, but courageous, steps an LGBT person can take.
HRC.org
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