George Takei denies he’s racist

George Takei has denied he’s racist after referring to Justice Clarence Thomas as a ‘clown in blackface’.

The gay Star Trek actor and activist angered some when he delivered a stern rebuke to the African American judge after he voted against same-sex marriage in the Supreme Court ruling.

Thomas denied that same-sex couples who were unable to get married were ‘deprived of their liberty and dignity’.

‘Slaves did not lose their dignity (any more than they lost their humanity) because the government allowed them to be enslaved,’ he said in his dissent. ‘Those held in internment camps did not lose their dignity because the government confined them…The government cannot bestow dignity and it cannot take it away.’

Takei, who was a survivor of a Japanese internment camp, reacted angrily to Thomas’ dissent.

‘He is a clown in blackface sitting on the Supreme Court. He gets me that angry,’ Takei told KSAZ-TV.

‘For him to say slaves had dignity … I mean, doesn’t he know slaves were chained? That they were whipped on the back?’

Many were outraged by his comments, with many calling Takei ‘racist’.

Writing on his Facebook, Takei has given a statement explaining his comments.

He said: ‘A few fans have written wondering whether I intended to utter a racist remark by referring to Justice Thomas as a “clown in blackface.”

‘”Blackface” is a lesser known theatrical term for a white actor who blackens his face to play a black buffoon. In traditional theater lingo, and in my view and intent, that is not racist. It is instead part of a racist history in this country.

‘I feel Justice Thomas has abdicated and abandoned his African American heritage by claiming slavery did not strip dignity from human beings. He made a similar remark about the Japanese American internment, of which I am a survivor. A sitting Justice of the Supreme Court ought to know better.’

The post George Takei denies he’s racist appeared first on Gay Star News.

Joe Morgan

www.gaystarnews.com/article/george-takei-denies-hes-racist/

You’ve Seen It On Facebook, But Does This Gay Pride Meme Deserve All The Outrage?

Photographer Ed Freeman created the gay flag image to the right more than 10 years ago for the cover of Frontiers magazine. Since then, it has been used across countless social media posts for its highly recognizable features — four men work to raise a rainbow flag, instantly evoking Joe Rosenthal’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 1945 photo at Iwo Jima (left).

Most recently, Freeman’s image resurfaced after last week’s Supreme Court victory. Freeman himself posted the picture to his Facebook account with the following message:

When I took this picture almost ten years ago, it never, never occurred to me that it would someday come to symbolize the victory we are celebrating today. Congratulations to all of us! Love to you all.

But many were upset at the implied comparison between the struggle for gay rights and the sacrifice on the battle field.

“Im all for gay rights and equal for all but DO NOT DISRESPECT THOSE WHO SERVED, SACRIFICED, AND DIED FOR YOUR COUNTRY AND YOUR RIGHTS AND FREEDOM,” wrote one commenter in response to Freeman’s post. “Its this shit that will drive ppl to hate on you. You WANT RESPECT THEN GIVE IT TO THOSE WHO DESERVE AND EARNED IT.”

Reaction on Twitter was similar:

I don’t say much, but this is too far. Do NOT take away from the Men and woman who fight and die for your “freedom”.. pic.twitter.com/Tdj5MxOXiC

— Robert Ybarra III (@albino_mexican3) July 2, 2015

The gay flag remake of the flag that flew at Iwo Jima is just insulting to America and those who have died for this country

— Jacob Anthony (@LabGrappler_95) June 27, 2015

But then again, the same person soon after Tweeted:

Hearing thats kids will be learning about incest, homosexuality, bisexuality in kindergarten makes me sick

— Jacob Anthony (@LabGrappler_95) June 28, 2015

One threat was so troubling, Freeman reported it to the FBI. “He said if he ever saw me, he’d kill me,” he told the Washington Post. “I got swamped with vitriolic hate mail.”

“The principle complaint that people have is that I am equating the gay struggle with the contribution and sacrifice of American servicemen,” Freeman said. “But there is no equal sign here. This is not meant as a sign of disrespect. For God sake, no. I totally support people in uniform. There is no comparison going on here. The comparison is going on in people’s heads, and they’re spoiling for a fight. They’re already on edge because of  the gay marriage decision.”

He added that before social media, his photo would only have been seen by people who wanted to see it, not by “straight people from small towns in Idaho.”

Is this a meme malfunction, or does everyone just need to simmer down?

Dan Tracer

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Mom of Trans Teen Pushes for Resources That Could Have Saved Her Son

A family friend who helped the Prescotts through their darkest hour with the death of 14-year-old Kyler has started a new family advocacy organization.

read more

Thom Senzee

www.advocate.com/politics/transgender/2015/07/03/mom-trans-teen-pushes-resources-could-have-saved-her-son

'Brothers' Web Series Premieres Its Second Season
It’s not often that you see authentic portrayals of the diverse experiences of trans masculine men.

For this reason, we’re big fans of the web series “Brothers,” which released the first episode of its second season this week. We brought you news about the first season in 2014, and continued to fall in love with these characters and their stories as time went on.

“Brothers” follows Jack, Davyn, Aiden and Max, four transgender and trans masculine men leading complicated, intersecting lives. In an attempt to honestly and authentically portray stories that the transgender community can connect with, all transgender roles in this web series are played by trans actors.

Check out the first episode of season one above. “Brothers” is currently raising funds in order to shoot the rest of the season — head here for more information.

— 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.

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Responding to equal marriage ruling, man says he wants to marry his dog and gets fired

‘How is marrying a dog different if you love them?’, that is the Facebook ‘joke’ that got one 32-year-old fired from his job.

Ryan Uhler, from Cape Coral, posted a message a day after the Supreme Court’s ruling legalizing same-sex marriage.

He posted: ‘How is marrying a dog different if you love them? Today I hope we can focus on doggy-style love. I love my dog Rocco, and he loves me. Hopefully one day we can be married.’

And then three days later, his employer Grace Investment Group fired from his position as a digital marketing specialist.

Company officials told him the Facebook post was the reason he was being fired and claimed they told him they were uncomfortable with the connotations of bestiality.

‘I was blindsided,’ Uhler told the Huffington Post. ‘I didn’t know anywhere there even knew how to use Facebook.’

Speaking to WZVN-TV, he admitted he likes to troll online. ‘It’s funny to go on and just see what other people are thinking and maybe stir the pot in either direction’.

Uhler, a man who’s already married, is still making jokes. He told NBC he ‘would indeed marry Rocco’ if he were allowed.

‘God, I love my dog,’ he told the station, ‘just as much as I love my wife and my kid.’

His family have not yet commented on the situation.

The post Responding to equal marriage ruling, man says he wants to marry his dog and gets fired appeared first on Gay Star News.

Joe Morgan

www.gaystarnews.com/article/man-marry-dog-gay-marriage-fired/

Five “Straight” Guys Who Have Grindr To Thank For Accidentally Coming Out

It is without question the best time in the United States’ history to be gay.

Thanks to the sacrifice and bravery of a generation of activists and radicals, we now enjoy rights and privileges that until recently would have sounded like scenes out of a utopian novel. With marriage equality in the rearview mirror, it’s only getting better.

Large (and ever-growing) chunks of straight society not only accept gay people, but sincerely welcome us. Plus, there’s an entire new generation is being taught that sexual orientation is no more shocking than being left handed.

So by the reflexive property of fabulousness, it is arguably the worst time in history to be closeted.

Not only do closet cases have to manage the immense psychological bourdon of suppressing their authentic selves, they have to stand witness to the miraculous changing social landscape and do their best not to participate.

And Grindr sure does make that more challenging for them. With a few taps and swipes, guys can access a network of gay men around them — imagine the temptation of that if you’ve built a life on the lie that you’re straight.

For these five guys, it was a lesson learned the hard way:

1. Rev. Matthew Makela

We’d be remiss not to start with Queerty’s big fish, the dishonorable reverend Matthew Makela.

Last month we broke the story that this Midland, Michigan, pastor was preaching an antigay, antitrans message during the day, and cruising for guys at night. He compared being gay to being an alcoholic, but told guys online that he was a top who likes to cuddle.

After the story broke, a mom and her teen son came forward to share what happened when the boy came out to Makela at 17 years old. The pastor told him the sin of homosexuality is no different than the sin of suicide.

We hope he’s changed his tune since then.

2. Rep. Randy Boehning

What’s worse than an antigay pastor on Grindr? An antigay lawmaker on Grindr.

Rep. Randy Boehning, a 52-year-old Republican legislator from Fargo, N.D. who has actively worked against extending equal rights, was outed after his Grindr profile surfaced.

21-year-old Dustin Smith of Bismarck, N.D., exposed the lawmaker after Boehning voted against Senate Bill 2279, which would have granted LGBT people legal protections against discrimination.

“How can you discriminate against the person you’re trying to pick up?” he said in an interview.

Boehning’s screen name? Top Man!

3. “Ex-Gay” Matt Moore

If someone is delusional enough to promulgate the horribly misinformed idea that one can will their sexual orientation to change, his story only holds its minute shred of merit if he sticks to the script.

And doesn’t, you know, chat guys up. How predicable.

When ex-gay activist Matt Moore was outed for cruising the little orange grid, he said: “I am wrong in having been on Grindr. I haven’t changed my views on homosexuality, the Bible, etc. Creating a Grindr profile and talking to guys on it was major disobedience on my part….disobedience to Christ.”

Good luck with that.

4. The Headless Torso

In the forums of parenting resource MumsNet, a different sort of Grindr user was being outed.

This loader of more guys chose to use a photo taken in the “ensuite bathroom” he shares with his wife. She was understandably shaken to discover her tile countertop (not to mention her husband’s headless torso) on display for the neighborhood gays to tap on. That profile advertising his lust for ass didn’t help the situation.

She confronted him, and he added lies on top of lies.

“Why could he not face up to his sexuality?” she asked later in the forum.

Come on, torso husband — time to tell the truth. You can be into guys, girls, both, neither — it’s all good.

5. Like father, like son

This one’s just awkward as hell.

As if being gay and in the throes of puberty weren’t difficult enough, a teenager claimed he found his homophobic dad on Grindr.

“Found out that my homophobe dad has Grindr on his iPhone when he asked me to go fetch it from the car. I am still closeted (denial/curious) so i know what Grindr is, even though I don’t have it myself. This makes it so much more confusing for me,” he wrote, seeking advice.

Many chimed in, including one who wisely warned, “A closeted married guy on Grindr might have some intense homophobia going on that he could take out on the queer kid in his care. Tread carefully.”

Related:

Four Tips For Antigay Pastors Worried About Getting Outed On Grindr

Here’s What Grindr Looked Like At Southern California’s Premiere Furry Convention

Watch What Happens When This Dude Lets His Mom Read His Grindr Messages

Dan Tracer

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