14 Stunning Photos of LGBT Military Personnel

These 14 photos tell a story of life post “don’t ask, don’t Tell.”

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Eliel Cruz

www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/art/photography/2015/02/25/14-stunning-photos-lgbt-military-personnel

Demons of Perfection

We all have them.

Some are big, some are small, but no matter what the size, they’re very real.

We tell our peers and ourselves a series of lies to try and convince everyone, including ourselves, that we are in fact fine. However, we are not.

We avoid them, hide from them and mask them with different feelings, substances and any other tactics we can think of employing. We run circles around ourselves, ruin relationships and force ourselves into craziness because we are afraid.

Afraid to look at that person in the mirror, and say, “I’m not who society wants me to be. I’m not who I have been taught I’m supposed to be. I’m not me for me.”

Whether it’s your weight, your sexuality, issues with your parents, or whatever it is that you beat yourself up for deep down inside, know that you’re not perfect. You’ll never be perfect. You’re not supposed to be perfect.

But you will be ok.

Perfection is an idea that we’ve been fed to make us want more, push harder and look for greatness. However, when you allow the idea of perfection to consume you, you drown your own happiness in a black sea that has no bottom.

Taking that first real-long-hard look at yourself in the mirror, and saying I’m (insert demon) is the first step to allowing yourself to be truly happy, allowing yourself to heal, allowing yourself to be your truest you.

The day you admit that you are gay, have problems with your weight, have an eating disorder, have problems with your mom or dad, or whatever else the case may be, is the day you get to start a new chapter. It’s the day you show the world your authentically-imperfect-beautiful-bright colors.

This day will be the scariest day of your life because it is the day you tell the world, “I’m not who you think I am!”

You may lose friends, you may lose a job, you may lose a lot, but what you gain in return is your life, and nothing is more valuable than that.

A lot of people think that the day they openly admit to what has been holding them back is the day that everything gets better, but the truth is this is the real beginning of your journey. This’s the day the real work starts.

“Coming out” is giving in to yourself in a sincere way, but it doesn’t mean you’ve dealt with your problems, your demons, your anxieties. It is simply the first step in a lifetime journey of understanding yourself.

Too many people avoid doing the work because it’s hard, tiring and scary. You have to address serious things that have occurred in your life, and come to terms with relationships, events and people that have mistreated you, and sometimes in ways you didn’t even realize.

Painful does not begin to explain the emotions you’ll feel, but as you continue to work on yourself the pain dissipates, and the light shines through.

Your demons don’t have the right to stay with you forever, nor should they. Give yourself the greatest gift you can, and work on you. You work on so many other things, so why not put the time in for your greatest creation, yourself.

www.huffingtonpost.com/barrett-pall/demons-of-perfection_b_6744910.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

'Fallstreak Hole' Cloud Formation Causes 'Oohs' and 'Aahs' in British Columbia: VIDEO

Andy Towle

www.towleroad.com/2015/02/fallstreakhole.html

Op-ed: Who Will Be The Next Leaders of the LGBT Movement?

Once interns move their way up the ladder to become executive directors, who steps in to follow?

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Ted Farley

www.advocate.com/commentary/2015/02/25/op-ed-who-will-be-next-leaders-lgbt-movement

Guys Describe Their Most Awkward Boner Moments

Morning wood is one thing, but what happens when the gears down under start turning at much more unwanted moments? Things get awkward, and fast.

From sex pills to planes to sheer unexplainable bad timing, watch as these guys describe their awkward boner moments.

Have any of your own to share? Pop them up into the comments section below and we’ll create a Queerty reader edition. Hey, if you can’t laugh at yourself, what’s the point?

Watch below:

Dan Tracer

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/WJsPHnRjaUA/guys-describe-their-most-awkward-boner-moments-20150225

Is 'Transface' a Problem in Hollywood?

Hilary Swank, Andrea James, Natasha Lyonne, Armistead Maupin, and more weigh in on casting discrimination in the entertainment industry.

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Daniel Reynolds

www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/2015/02/25/transface-problem-hollywood

PHOTOS: Miss Fame And The New Crop Of Ru Girls Live It Up At The Diamond Horseshoe

The new class of Ru Girls were introduced to New York City at the Diamond Horseshoe this week when Brandon Voss teamed up with Logo TV for a special pink carpet laid out for the fourteen queens competing to become America’s next superstar.

The Diamond Horseshoe, located in the basement of the Paramount Hotel, was the popular club and dinner theater brainchild of Oscar Hammerstein II and Broadway legend Billy Rose in the 1940s. The venue is currently home to the popular Queen of the Night immersive and surrealist production. This year’s New York contestants Miss Fame (pictured) and Pearl welcomed season seven hopefuls and trending queens like Mrs. Kasha Davis, Sasha Belle, Trixie Mattel, Violet Chachki, Ginger Minj, Tempest DuJour, Katya, Max, Jaidynn  Diore Fierce, Jasmine Masters, Kandy Ho, and Kennedy Davenport for a special party hosted by Drag Race favorite Shangela in midtown Manhattan.

The new season of RuPaul‘s Drag Race features Michelle Visage with new judges Carson Kressley, Ross Mathews, and special guest judges Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato, Alyssa Milano, and Olivia Newton-John (among others).

The news season starts Monday, March 2 at 9pm ET/PT. Fasten your seat belts and may the best woman win.

Photography by Jeffrey James Keyes

Check out all the pictures in the GayCities Gallery. 

jjkeyes

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/Dnthntakg50/photos-miss-fame-and-the-new-crop-of-ru-girls-live-it-up-at-the-diamond-horseshoe-20150225