Critics call The Danish Girl a ‘game changer’ for trans visibility

It has yet to hit cinema screens, but trans drama The Danish Girl is already being called a point of change for the transgender community.

Celebrating its world premiere as part of Venice Film Festival, director Tom Hooper’s latest film has been praised in the international press.

On the night, The Danish Girl reportedly received a ten-minute standing ovation, while critics are already awarding Eddie Redmayne his second Oscar – or at least highlighting him as a hot contestant for one.

But it’s not all focusing on the actors’ performance; while the Daily Mail calls The Danish Girl ‘emotionally undercharged’ and the Independent described it as ‘very careful not to startle or offend its audience’, other voices have made themselves heard.

Den of Geek’s Chiara Spagnoli Gabardi called it ‘an important portrait of gender identity’ paying tribute to not just ‘an amazing person but also to the courageous people nowadays who are taking that journey’.

Moviepilot, Germany’s biggest web service for film news and recommendations, took it a step further: in the website’s review, the author – going by the name of Rocky Balbea – called The Danish Girl ‘important for everyone’.

‘The Danish Girl is for transgender issues what Brokeback Mountain was for the topic of homosexuality,’ she writes.

‘A cinematic turning point, a game changer, an arrival in the cinematic and socio-politic mainstream.’

The Danish Girl will hit US theatres on 27 November; in the UK, it will be released on 1 January 2016.

The post Critics call The Danish Girl a ‘game changer’ for trans visibility appeared first on Gay Star News.

Stefanie Gerdes

www.gaystarnews.com/article/critics-call-the-danish-girl-a-game-changer-for-trans-visibility/

40 Years Since Leonard Matlovich’s Time Magazine Cover

Forty years ago today, Air Force Sergeant Leonard Matlovich appeared on the cover of Time magazine, marking a turning point for LGBT Americans in the military.
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/40-years-since-leonard-matlovichs-time-magazine-cover?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Heartbreaking New Documentary Recounts Largest Gay Mass Murder In U.S. History

While the gays take to the streets of New Orleans this weekend in celebration of Southern Decadence, a new documentary about a darker chapter of the city’s gay history is currently making its rounds on indy film fest circuit.

Related: Memorializing The Victims Of Horrific Firebombing At New Orleans’ Upstairs Lounge: “You Know This Was A Gay Bar”

Upstairs Inferno recounts the story of a 1973 arsonist attack on the Up Stairs Lounge, a popular gay bar once located in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The fire killed more than 30 people and remains the largest gay mass murder in U.S. history. The devastation was compounded by the homophobic response by the general public, local government and religious leaders, who refused to acknowledge the tragedy. As a result, no one was ever charged with the crime and families were left the grieve their loved ones in silence.

To this day the case remains unsolved.

Check out the trailer for Upstairs Inferno below.

UPSTAIRS INFERNO – Teaser Trailer [HD] from Camina Entertainment on Vimeo.

Graham Gremore

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/gIX2j4OtiGc/heartbreaking-new-documentary-recounts-largest-gay-mass-murder-in-u-s-history-20150908

Anti-Gay Protestors Picket Judge Who Jailed Kim Davis: VIDEO

Supporters of Rowan County, Kentucky clerk Kim Davis protested outside the home of federal judge David Bunning in protest of Bunning’s decision to jail Davis on charges of contempt. Bunning found Davis in contempt after she refused to provide marriage licenses to same-sex couples, a clear violation of the law in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges.

Federal Marshals were called to Bunning’s home to ensure Bunning’s safety. The protestors, which numbered at most at 30 according to WCPO 9 News, demanded that Bunning, not Davis, should be jailed for allegedly denying Davis her due process.

One protestor outside Bunning’s home argued Davis was “unlawfully put in jail”, adding, “Show us the law or free Kim Davis.”

Another protestor, Rev. Flip Benjamin said, “We are holding Judge Bunning in contempt of almighty God”, clearly referencing the charges of contempt Davis faces.

Protestors held up signs that read, “Don’t make a civil right a moral wrong”, “Free Kim Davis”, while another declared Davis a Kentucky and Christian hero.

Supreme Court justices were accused of treason on another sign.

As WCPO notes, Judge Bunning’s ruling against Davis also ordered that her supporters are not allowed to set up a Go Fund Me account to pay for her legal fees.

Watch a news report and see the bigots on parade, below:

The post Anti-Gay Protestors Picket Judge Who Jailed Kim Davis: VIDEO appeared first on Towleroad.

Sean Mandell

Anti-Gay Protestors Picket Judge Who Jailed Kim Davis: VIDEO

NHS not treating trans patients equally, say top doctors

Leading doctors have warned the NHS is not treating trans patients equally, following an inquiry

by the Commons Women and Equalities committee launched in July.

Dr John Dean, chair of NHS England’s Clinical Reference Group for Specialised Gender Identity Services told MPs this morning: ‘Trans people are people and must be treated like people and want to be able to access the healthcare in parts of the NHS just like other people.’

Claiming doctors are ‘hampered by a lack of knowledge’ on trans issues, he explained: ‘Overall people working in the service try to be empathic, they are certainly sympathetic, but they lack a great deal of background knowledge about gender incongruence and dysphoria. It is something which is not covered in any detail in medical training.’

He said using the incorrect gender pronoun when addressing a patient, ‘Can cause deep offense’, adding awareness of trans issues should be ‘a fundamental part of NHS training.’

Chief Executive of West London Mental Health NHS Trust Steve Shrubb added: ‘Transgender individuals really do suffer stigma. I don’t believe there is equality. Whether it’s through lack of knowledge or people’s own views I think service users tell me it can feel as if they are not being treated equally.’

For more information on the first evidence session of transgender equality inquiry, click here. To watch the discussion, click here.

The wider inquiry is considering how far and in what ways trans people still have ‘yet to achieve full equality; and how the outstanding issues can most effectively be addressed.’

Committee Chair Maria Miller has commented: ‘Many trans people still face discrimination and unfair treatment in their work, schools, healthcare and other important services. Transphobia and hate crimes are a cruel reminder that we still have a great deal to do to achieve true equality for everyone.’

She added: ‘I hope that trans people will feel able to share their experiences with our inquiry, so that the committee can make recommendations for improving people’s lives.’

The post NHS not treating trans patients equally, say top doctors appeared first on Gay Star News.

Jamie Tabberer

www.gaystarnews.com/article/nhs-not-treating-trans-patients-equally-say-top-doctors/

Op-ed: The Black Gay Trans Man at Minneapolis City Hall

Philippe Cunningham was told he could never get into politics. Now, he’s the right-hand man for one of the most powerful women in Minnesota.

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Phillipe Cunningham

www.advocate.com/commentary/2015/09/08/op-ed-black-gay-trans-man-minneapolis-city-hall

Rapper Travis Scott apologizes for yelling anti-gay slurs at concert

Travis Scott has apologized for yelling anti-gay slurs at a concert in March.

Scott, 23, faced a backlash on social media last week after footage emerged of the 3500 rapper’s gig at House of Blues in Houston, Texas.

Displeased with the crowd’s lack of energy, he shouted: ‘I ain’t cool with none of you faggots who just sitting here looking like a bunch of queers.’

Time to get this homophobe Travis Scott outta here yall @TMZ @PerezHilton @youngthug pic.twitter.com/xZAfZuVvZM

— KU®T SN❄️W (@HDKG) September 7, 2015

The video could not have could at a worse time for Scott, whose debut album, Rodeo, dropped on Friday (4 September).

On Monday, the rapper took to Twitter to apologize to the LGBTI community, saying his words were taken out of context:

AT MY SHOWS I GET A LIL TURNT UP. SORRY FOR THAT BUT NEVER WILL I EVER DISRESPECT THAT COMMUNITY.

— TRAVIS SCOTT (@trvisXX) September 7, 2015

THANKS BEING SAID MY APOLOGIES TO ANYONE THATS OFFENDED. MY WORDS WERENT OUT OF BAD MEANING AND IN NO DISRESPECT.

— TRAVIS SCOTT (@trvisXX) September 7, 2015

I DONT WANT U TO THINK OF ME AS A SPAZZ. THOUGH WHEN I GET EXCITED I TEND TO SAY THE FIRST THING ON MY MIND OUT LOUD. — TRAVIS SCOTT (@trvisXX) September 7, 2015

IVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT AS A PERSON TAKES TIME BUT WE ALL AINT PERFECT.

— TRAVIS SCOTT (@trvisXX) September 7, 2015

The post Rapper Travis Scott apologizes for yelling anti-gay slurs at concert appeared first on Gay Star News.

Darren Wee

www.gaystarnews.com/article/rapper-travis-scott-apologizes-for-yelling-anti-gay-slurs-at-concert/

Australia welcomes first trans TV host

Australia’s first transgender TV host made his debut on The Project Monday (7 September) night.

Andrew Guy, 33, won a nationwide radio competition to be a guest presenter on the Channel Ten panel show and shared his transition story with the other hosts.

‘I still used to go to bed at night, praying that I could wake up the next day as a boy,’ he said.

Guy was introduced with a clip from a documentary about his life, It’s Not About The Sex, which includes photos from his childhood and before his transition five years ago.

‘As a woman with blond hair I was just doing my darnedest to be attractive, be the best woman I could,’ he narrated.

‘People who change their gender are just an everyday person, that eats and sleep and loves and get hurt and just lives as best they can alongside everyone else.’

Asked why he decided to document his transition, Guy replied: ‘Education.’

He revealed that he lived through his teenage years ‘badly and suppressed,’ and struggled to find trans-related information.

‘I mean five years ago we didn’t have Caitlyn Jenner, we didn’t have the likes of those individuals, so it was really a frontier when I thought nobody knows much about this,’ he said.

Guy received an outpouring of support on Twitter, with some viewers suggesting he should become a permanent member of the panel:

Love love love @theprojecttv‘s commitment to diversity. They feature the first transgender guest host on Australian TV tonight.

— Carly Findlay (@carlyfindlay) September 7, 2015

Andrew’s story of his #transgender journey on @theprojecttv tonight was fascinating, informative and educational. Great job!

— Stephen B Sander (@stephenbsander) September 7, 2015

Andrew should stay on as a co-host. He’s great #TheProjectTV

— Jonathan Brown (@JB_AU) September 7, 2015

From one trans person to another – shout out to trans man Andrew co-hosting @theprojecttv tonight (and absolutely SMASHING it)! #legend

— Triana Jade (@trianajade) September 7, 2015

Watch the broadcast below:

The post Australia welcomes first trans TV host appeared first on Gay Star News.

Darren Wee

www.gaystarnews.com/article/australia-welcomes-first-trans-tv-host/

Kim Davis Supporters Protest Outside Judge's Home

Thirty people descended on the Kentucky home of Judge David Bunning, who sent antigay county clerk Kim Davis to prison.

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Neal Broverman

www.advocate.com/marriage-equality/2015/09/07/kim-davis-supporters-protest-outside-judges-home