Equinox Teams With Laverne Cox For #PoweredByPride Campaign: PHOTOS

The Equinox fitness center chain has launched a #POWEREDBYPRIDE campaign to mark LGBT Pride Month.

The campaign features murals in New York, London and San Francisco by artist David Flores, and Equinox will donate $1 to LGBT charities each time the hashtag #PoweredByPride is used.

The ambassador for the campaign is transgender actress Laverne Cox (above).

“Pride for me is about living authentically, having the courage and power to stand tall spiritually, emotionally and physically in my truth,” Cox said. “Join me by sharing what pride means to you, and visiting the @Equinox mural in Williamsburg to share a kiss in support of universal love!’”

From a release:

“Art is most powerful when delivering a social message,” Flores said. “As an artist, I am a big supporter of self-expression and the LGBTQA community. Everyone deserves to be proud of who they are.”

“Equinox empowers its members to be confident and proud of whom they are,” says Carlos Becil, Equinox Chief Marketing Officer. “We are proud to say that our members are diverse and #POWEREDBYPRIDE allow us to show our support for the LGBTQA community and the importance of confidence and living life to the fullest. The collaboration with the Hetrick-Martin Institute and The Pillion Trust aligns with our mission to encourage everyone to be the best version of themselves.”

The Hetrick-Martin Institute is a charity seeking to foster healthy development for struggling LGBTQ youth. “We are proud to work with Equinox as they understand and embrace the importance of wellness, both physically and emotionally,” says Dara Gordon Chief Operating Officer of the Hentrick-Martin Institute. “We love that Equinox supports our work and is celebrating Pride as it is essential to rise up our community.”

In London, #POWEREDBYPRIDE will support The Pillion Trust, an organization that offers the LGBTQ community stability, friendship and safe place for those who are struggling to understand their sexuality and gender identities, which can lead to self-harm, depression and suicide.

The #POWERBYPRIDE murals will be in Williamsburg in New  York City, at North 13th and Wythe Avenue from June 15 through July 13, in Soho in London on Berwick Street from June 21 through July 4, and in San Francisco at 923 Market St. from June 15 through July 13.

Check out more images from the campaign below.

@Equinox so proud to support this amazing & important campaign, & proud to teach yoga at #equinox. #PoweredByPride pic.twitter.com/TVpdrubukT

— Dina Ivas (@yogawithdina) June 20, 2015

#poweredbypride Saturday morning pre-gym fun!

A photo posted by Hannah V. Slater (@itscalledhardwork) on Jun 20, 2015 at 12:49pm PDT

Because anything worth doing is worth doing big. SF, it’s time to celebrate #PoweredByPride with our second @davidfloresart mural on Market Street. A photo posted by Equinox (@equinox) on Jun 20, 2015 at 11:42am PDT

@yasminepetty for @Equinox #PoweredbyPride campaign to benefit the @hetrickmartin Institute in front of @davidfloresart mural #yasminepetty #pridemonth #equinoxmademedoit #marcoovando

A photo posted by Marco Ovando (@marco_ovando) on Jun 20, 2015 at 11:06am PDT

The post Equinox Teams With Laverne Cox For #PoweredByPride Campaign: PHOTOS appeared first on Towleroad.

John Wright

Equinox Teams With Laverne Cox For #PoweredByPride Campaign: PHOTOS

IBM Cancels Ribbon-Cutting For Baton Rouge Facility Over Gov. Bobby Jindal’s Anti-Gay Executive Order

In response to an anti-gay executive order signed by Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal in May, IBM has cancelled a ribbon-cutting for its new National Service Center in Baton Rouge that was scheduled for Monday.

WAFB-TV reports:

The event on June 22 had been reserved for months, according to several city leaders, including Davis Rhorer, executive director of the Downtown Development District.

The technology giant IBM voiced “strong opposition” to Louisiana’s so-called religious freedom legislation as far back as mid-April.

In a letter to the governor, IBM executives said the legislation cut at the very heart of what their company stands for, equal rights and opportunity for everyone, discrimination for no one. The letter implored Jindal not to support any agenda that protected discrimination against LGBT people.

According to IBM’s website, the Service Center will create 800 technology jobs in Louisiana over the next four years.

Despite strong opposition from IBM and other business interests, Jindal signed the executive order on May 19, saying it was intended to protect the “religious liberty” of objectors to same-sex marriage in the state. The signing came just one day after Jindal formed an exploratory committee to run for president.

Jindal signed the order after the Legislature failed to pass a similar measure the governor had designated a priority.

Days later, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landreu responded with this own executive order saying the Big Easy won’t tolerate discrimination. Jindal’s executive order also drew heavy criticism from the Louisiana tourism industry.

Watch WAFB-TV’s report on the cancellation of the ribbon-cutting below.

FOX 8 WVUE New Orleans News, Weather, Sports, Social

The post IBM Cancels Ribbon-Cutting For Baton Rouge Facility Over Gov. Bobby Jindal’s Anti-Gay Executive Order appeared first on Towleroad.

John Wright

IBM Cancels Ribbon-Cutting For Baton Rouge Facility Over Gov. Bobby Jindal’s Anti-Gay Executive Order

This Father's Day, This Is What Queer Dads Want You To Know
Father’s Day was first celebrated in 1910, and what it means to be a dad, in some ways, has shifted dramatically in the last century, along with our definition of family. Today families come in all sizes and shapes and so do dads.

To commemorate Father’s Day, we reached out to you— our readers—and asked those of you who identify as dads, whether gay, bi, trans, or otherwise situated within the queer community to share your experiences using the hashtag #queerdadswantu2know.

What is it that queer dads want the world to know about their journey to and through fatherhood? How do they celebrate the joys and challenges of parenting? What have they learned by being dads? Find out by reading some of our favorite responses below.

@huffpostgay As a #Trans Queer Dad, I love that my son corrects those that mis-gender me. #queerdadswantu2know #HeCallsMeDaddy

— Jordan M (@ARTransVet) June 18, 2015

#queerdadswantu2know I’m a gay man who is the father of a 12 year old. Very proud of him, as he is proud of me 🙂

— Simon Catterall (@catterall_simon) June 18, 2015

That I can be gay, masculine, and a role model. I am many things. My kids know that they can be anything. #queerdadswantu2know

— Russ Exlos-Raber (@RussRaber) June 19, 2015

@huffpostgay #queerdadswantu2know that girls can be daddies too! #TransWoman #TransDaddy

— Marni Panas (@marnipanas) June 19, 2015

#queerdadswantu2know we love our kids just as much as anyone else pic.twitter.com/WkrdAatiJe

— Prince Cyrus-Spears (@LoveMoneyPrince) June 19, 2015

Being a father of two beautiful daughters I realized I would never not be someone’s dad. I am a father, gay and happy #queerdadswantu2know

— Robert Perry (@larobertlee) June 19, 2015

@huffpostgay @HuffingtonPost Society doesn’t represent or value men as equally invested or capable in parenting. We R! #queerdadswantu2know

— Russell Saylor (@RussellSaylor) June 18, 2015

@huffpostgay that we are no different than any other dad. We make mistakes all the time but get up the next day and do it again with ❤️

— Bryant Huddleston (@ThatBryant) June 18, 2015

That love knows no gender #queerdadswantu2know pic.twitter.com/pJVjY1nUMg

— jonathan (@vaguy22206) June 18, 2015

I know what’s best for my children. I don’t need you’re “mummy advise” #queerdadswantu2know

— David B (@davidbim) June 19, 2015

#queerdadswantu2know Dignity and respect are the best #Fathersday presents from strangers t.co/6zXoBDWhLR @WipeHomophobia

— Rob Watson (@JandJDad) June 19, 2015

Proud of our 4 yr-old who answers ‘You can’t have TWO dads!’ comments with a proud grin, shrug & ‘Oh yes you can’ #queerdadswantu2know

— Tony Ereira (@tonyereira) June 19, 2015

That our three sons love us no matter what ! #queerdadswantu2know

— jonathan (@vaguy22206) June 18, 2015

That I can be gay, masculine, and a role model. I am many things. My kids know that they can be anything. #queerdadswantu2know

— Russ Exlos-Raber (@RussRaber) June 19, 2015

Being a gay dad, we teach him unconditional love and acceptance for everyone, even the haters! #queerdadswantu2know t.co/NQS1LpVRMa

— BJ Barone (@bjbarone) June 18, 2015

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/21/fathers-day-queer-dads_n_7616532.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

Five Things We Love About New York Pride

 

Images by Jeffrey James Keyes

jjkeyes

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/ZcXlL3bFTB8/five-things-we-love-about-new-york-pride-20150621

GOP Congressmen Introduce Disgusting, Anti-Gay ‘First Amendment Defense Act’

Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Idaho), left, and Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) this week introduced the so-called “First Amendment Defense Act,” which would give federal employees and contractors a right to sue the federal government based on their opposition to same-sex marriage.

The anti-LGBT, license-to-discriminate measure is similar to the “Marriage and Religious Freedom Act,” which died in 2013.

From the Human Rights Campaign:

The legislation would prohibit any adverse action by the federal government against an individual or organization for discriminatory actions against legally married same-sex couples as long as they claim they are acting in accordance with their religious beliefs. “Adverse action” is broadly defined to include the denial or revocation of a federal tax status or deduction; denial of a federal grant, contract, loan, benefit or employment; or any other act of discrimination. The bill provides individuals and organizations the right to sue the federal government for monetary damages in federal court.

If passed, this legislation would create a breakdown of government services and runaway litigation.  It would permit a federal employee, for example, to refuse to process tax returns, visa applications or Social Security checks whenever a same-sex couple’s paperwork appears on his or her desk.  This legislation would also permit recipients of federal grants and contracts, including those for social services programs like homeless shelters and substance abuse treatment programs, to turn away LGBT people.  It allows any of these individuals or groups, or anyone else who believes they have been somehow required by the federal government to approve of married same-sex couples, to file a lawsuit and potentially receive damages from taxpayer money.

From Labrador’s press release about the bill:

“Religious freedom is at the heart of what it means to be an American,” Labrador said. “America set the standard for upholding freedom of belief and worship in a diverse society. No American should ever doubt these protections enshrined in the First Amendment.

“Our bill ensures that the federal government does not penalize Americans for following their religious beliefs or moral convictions on traditional marriage. Our bill shields against federal intrusion without taking anything away from anyone. In a shifting landscape, it’s time that Congress proactively defend this sacred right.”

Said Sen. Lee: “There’s a reason the right to religious liberty appears first in our nation’s Bill of Rights. The freedom to live and to act in accordance with the dictates of one’s conscience and religious convictions is integral to human flourishing, serving as the foundation upon which America has produced the most diverse, tolerant, and stable society the world has ever known. The vast majority of Americans today still hold a robust view of religious liberty, yet across the country the right of conscience is threatened by state and local governments that coerce, intimidate, and penalize individuals, associations, and businesses who believe that marriage is a union between a man and a woman. The First Amendment Defense Act is necessary to ensure that this kind of government excess never occurs at the federal level.”

The bill has 57 co-sponsors in the House, including Illinois Democrat Daniel Lipinski. It has 18 co-sponsors in the Senate, all Republicans.

The “First Amendment Defense Act” is backed by anti-LGBT hate groups including the National Organization for Marriage, which is asking presidential candidates to endorse the legislation as part of its anti-gay pledge.

The post GOP Congressmen Introduce Disgusting, Anti-Gay ‘First Amendment Defense Act’ appeared first on Towleroad.

John Wright

GOP Congressmen Introduce Disgusting, Anti-Gay ‘First Amendment Defense Act’

Steps to Gay Fatherhood: The Panic Will Pass

Being a dad to twins could incite a panic, but not for the reasons you’d expect.

read more

Lucas Grindley

www.advocate.com/commentary/2015/06/21/steps-gay-fatherhood-panic-will-pass

Diane From HR Is Going To Flip Out When She Discovers These Gay Office Romances

“Office” and “romance” are two words that when combined make any HR representative flinch and/or cringe (Diane, for instance).

But falling for someone you work with is pretty inevitable — you spend (way too much) time with your colleagues, and try as we might, it’s nearly impossible to stop that rush of excitement you get around a crush once it starts brewing.

Equally inevitable is an office romance crashing and burning. Casualties are to be expected.

So why are they such a good fantasy?

We wanted to hear from guys in various forms of workplace passion, so we asked Whisper to see what they could track down in the ‘ole filing cabinet.

Here’s what they found:

Dan Tracer

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/20veVNqAGXA/diane-from-hr-is-going-to-flip-out-when-she-discovers-these-gay-office-romances-20150621