Ugandan LGBT advocate Frank Mugisha says allies change public perception
This week on GLAAD’s video series, GLAAD: All Access, host Claire Pires interviewed Ugandan LGBT advocate Frank Mugisha about the current state of LGBT people in Uganda. Pires caught up with…
Daily Archives: March 11, 2015
Op-ed: Empire's Queer Family of Color Is the Real 'New Normal'
Op-ed: Empire's Queer Family of Color Is the Real 'New Normal'
It’s not just up to Hollywood to show LGBT parents exist — it’s up to us, too.
Karamo Brown
www.advocate.com/commentary/2015/03/11/op-ed-empires-queer-family-color-real-new-normal
Two Years On…
Two Years On…
On June 9th, my twin sons will turn two years old. I’m in the zone. I’m riding the blur. I’m a master diaperer, a passable storybook reader, a stealer of naps, a soother and a screamer. And I marvel at the supersonic yet viscous passage of time. In short, I’ve become a parent.
When my husband Lin and I first stepped onto this path, about four years ago, we had high hopes, a lot of questions and zero first-hand experience at parenting. It would be “hard” — people told us this and we believed them unreservedly — but what were the contours of this thing, we wondered.
It’s only slightly less opaque after two years, but I’ve made an observation or two, some of which apply to two-dad families and some of which apply to most anyone…
For the other new two-dad families out there:
1. Get use to weird looks, especially at the beginning. Our boys spent their first 18 months in Brooklyn, bastion of all that is enlightened and good and kissed by the goddess of artisanality. And almost without exception, when we ventured into the world as a family in those first few weeks and months, we got triple-takes that seemed to distractedly say, “What the hell is going on there? ” And while I’m convinced that this was 99 percent guileless, instinctive curiosity that manifested physically before the inquisitor could check his reaction, it became tiresome at times. We joked that we got to know how it might feel like to be slightly famous, or to have glaring physical abnormality. But see it in the most generous light, or as generously as your sleep-deprived self will permit; people are basically good and every stranger we’ve ever talked to about our boys and their story was jazzed for us beyond our expectations.
2. Mothers will offer you unsolicited advice in public all the time. This is just a fact. And occasionally it’s welcome, but most of the time it’s not. Perhaps it’s cosmic payback misdirected at us for the way that women are endlessly condescended to in our culture, but man, it really doesn’t feel good. But you smile, or maybe smirk, and tell yourself that this too is guileless and thank your lucky stars you’re not half as clueless as she thinks you are.
3. You’re not a mom, and you don’t have to be. I’ve harbored a dark fantasy that at some point someone will be uncouth enough to openly remark on how unfortunate it is that our boys don’t have a mother. To which I archly reply without missing a beat, “But think of all the money they’ll save on therapy!” But no one has said anything like that and I doubt anyone would. But it’s good to remember that though neither of us is female, we are caring and nurturing and loving, and that’s what matters. Kids need these things from whichever parent they can, and sadly many get it from neither. I count our kids as lucky for being so very wanted, and so cherished.
For all y’all:
1. Listen to other parents’ advice, but try not to swallow it whole. Weigh it against your gut, tease out what you find useful, and leave the rest. The best advice we got from other parents always came with an acknowledgement that theirs was a unique experience and may or may not apply to us. And avoid advice that seems to have been drawn from the latest parenting neurosis being flogged to death by the media that month.
2. Get out, early and often. If you have family help or can afford a babysitter, get out of the house without your new bundle of joy with some degree of regularity. Parenting is forever and it’s 24-hours a day, every day regardless of where you are, so you may as well leave your baby in capable hands and go out and have a nice meal and a drink or two. It’s good for you and good for them, I’m sure of that. And they won’t notice you’re gone, trust me.
3. Housework is interminable. It just is. Trying to stay 100 percent on top of it will drive you crazy. Occasionally, let things go until either life or limb seem at risk. And if you can afford to have someone come in and clean once in a while, do it. Ride that bourgeois pony.
4. Read All Joy And No Fun by Jennifer Senior. In an era of drone parenting, where every action or inaction spurs feelings of guilt or inadequacy, this book allays fears and buoys the spirit. You’re doing just fine.
Parenting isn’t something you ever feel you’ve mastered, I suspect. There’s a deep learning curve that’s complicated by endless flux, balled up into a singular, unrelenting, rewarding reality. I wondered in these pages more than two years ago whether I was maybe too selfish or capricious to be a good parent. And I still wonder that daily when my patience is quick to wane, when my voice rises before I’ve made a real attempt to understand, when the last thing I want to do is get out of bed, or change a diaper. But overall, I think I’m doing okay, and I couldn’t be more deeply happy that we made the decision we did. Happy almost birthday, boys!
www.huffingtonpost.com/marc-leandro/two-years-on_b_6838530.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices
Why you have failed your God – and business – if you refuse to serve gay people
A Trans Perspective on HRC’s 2015 Equality Convention
Models Callum And Josh Prove Active Is Attractive
Models Callum And Josh Prove Active Is Attractive
Models Callum Aylott and Josh Stevenson hit the gym in Part 2 of The Underwear Expert’s exclusive “Warm Up” series by Jerrad Matthew. Making up for their lazy day indoors, the guys show off activewear styles from Papi, teamm8, Emporio Armani, and Junk Underjeans. The activewear designs provide more coverage than your typical piece of gym apparel. But these warm looks are made for feeling the burn while keeping you from overheating.
Activewear with the ability to regulate heat is something every man can benefit from having in the collection of active apparel. Depending on the season or the activity, more revealing cuts are not always appropriate in your activewear. And when it comes to exercising in the cold, moisture wicking fabrics are just as important as full coverage styles. Callum wears the teamm8 Combat Hoodie in two of the stills. Sleeveless hoodies allow your skin to breathe while still covering your core in an insulating layer — something every guy wants in his activewear. Long Johns, such as the Emporio Armani Eagle Stretch Cotton Long John, and the Junk Underjeans Base Tangerine Extended Trunk, are also great for gym sessions. If you don’t want to hit the gym in them, cuddle up to their snug and warm designs at home instead.
You can see more of this photo shoot on The Underwear Expert.
Photo Credit: Jerrad Matthew for The Underwear Expert
Underwear Expert
GOP-Dominated Florida House Moves to Remove Language Banning Gay Adoption from Law
GOP-Dominated Florida House Moves to Remove Language Banning Gay Adoption from Law
The Florida House of Representatives is likely to strike language banning gay adoption from its laws in an acknowledgement of the court ruling five years ago declaring the state’s gay adoption ban unconstitutional, the AP reports. The body gave it an early approval on Tuesday:
The full bill still needs a House vote, but it has wide support. The Senate and Gov. Rick Scott would also have to approve the bill before the gay-adoption language is deleted from law.
Republican House Speaker Steve Crisafulli (pictured) said the vote isn’t necessarily an endorsement of current policy that allows gays to adopt.
“Philosophically, I’ve never really been there on that, but I’m somebody who operates under the letter of the law,” he said. “I recognize that this has been taking place for five years, so our bill is going to reflect that.”
Basically, most of the Republicans are still against gay couples adopting children, they’re just acknowledging they must abide by the law – five years later.
Andy Towle
'Star Wars' Is About To Introduce Its First Official LGBT Character
'Star Wars' Is About To Introduce Its First Official LGBT Character
World, make way for Moff Delian Mors!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOGPHVfK6RQ&feature=youtube_gdata
such variety in this little group
5 Brilliant Quotes From Women, Illustrated
5 Brilliant Quotes From Women, Illustrated
To celebrate International Women’s Day this past Sunday, CNN asked their audience to share their favorite quotes from inspirational women and recruited female designers to turn them into art.
CNN crowd-sourced the quotes using the hashtag #InspireWomen before enlisting the help of female designers who volunteered to illustrate a selection of the quotes. On Sunday, CNN revealed the final product: a gallery of 17 gorgeous illustrations capturing powerful words from women throughout history.
All of the quotes were suggested by CNN’s audience, CNN journalists and women interviewed by CNN’s Leading Women program.
The designs include quotes from Helen Keller, Maya Angelou and Sheryl Sandberg. Here are 5 of our favorites:
Designed by Yulia Shevchenko
Designed by Brenna Darroch
Designed by Laura Loving
Designed by Kitty Curran
Designed by Amber Alves
Head over to CNN to see the rest of these badass quotes turned into art.
