Friends</em> Series 1 – Six Things I Never Knew I Knew
Sorry… 26. Ross is TWENTY SIX in series one? But I am 26. That is my age. He is a grown up man who is my age.

That was largely my reaction to watching the entire series one of Friends again. I’ve of course watched Friends a lot since it finished, I mean I’m not an animal, but never in any order. I tended to follow it in whatever order the TV channel that was carrying it wanted to throw at me. One minute she gets off the plane, the next skinny Chandler is all up in Janice’s grill clutching on to that hideous/fabulous leopard print boot. The series turns 21 this week, and to honour that milestone I decided to go back to the start, old fashioned DVD boxset-style. A re-watch, a rebirth, a rediscovery (NOTE FROM EDITOR: calm down).

Age aside (TWENTY SIX?), I discovered six key things I didn’t know I knew during my more crazy mixed up viewing habits. So here we go, Friends series 1… a re-reaction.

1 ‘The Rachel’ hairstyle is a blink and you’ll miss it situation. Full disclosure, I hate that hairstyle. I understand that thousands, if not millions, of 90’s ladies wanted it on their heads, but it is awful. Thankfully, it actually wasn’t in it for very long. To my eyes, about half the first series includes ‘The Rachel’ and then that’s all folks. That’s the power of the Aniston though right, I mean I’m not saying she’s Jesus but let’s be real, she was sent here to save us all.

2 – Poor Phoebe. She just doesn’t get a look in. Minor stories like the thumb in the soda thing, and a token love story with lovely David, but that’s really all we see of her. Could she be more supporting cast? If you want evidence of how little is about her, I give you this: David reappears later in the show’s run to represent Phoebe’s great love, yet he’s only in it for ONE episode of S1. That is how much screen time they gave the Buffay’s great love story. Well done everyone, it’s not like Kudrow is a national treasure or anything.

3 – In contrast, series one really is the one about Ross and Rachel. Seriously, between Ross’ divorce, his baby, Rachel’s wedding walk out, her journey from spoilt to, well, less spoilt, her relationship with Paolo (who, I might add, gets three episodes in series 1. That’s two more than David… case rested) — it’s just non-stop with those two. Plus, of course, the ‘will they won’t they’ starts. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m as into the whole Ross / Rachel thing as the next 90s kid, but I had no idea these two were so all encompassing.

4 – Joey is not stupid, nor is he creepy with women. I get it, character development etc. But really, he’s actually kind of witty and charming in S1. He’s sarcastic and slightly deep (that whole thing with his dad, too cute). I quite like some dumb Joey moments, but in the end I thought they got a bit annoying. Our Italian Stallion could have been so much more. Alas. (EDITOR: seriously, calm down)

5 – What’s with the beam? Monica’s apartment has this weird beam in it that is def removed at some point. I don’t like it and I’m glad she changed it. I don’t think Monica’s decorating is always on point (purple, really?), but she werked it out with that decision — it would have been the first thing to go if I lived in that palatial apartment.

6 – I’m about to come out. This is a big moment for me so be kind. Monica is my favorite character.

Phew, it feels so good to say it out loud, when’s the parade (etc). Basically, Monica is sarcastic, tough when she needs to be, deals with her crazy mother, is not that bothered that she’s supremely uncool and has a deep rooted pride in the apartment she keeps spotless. I’m not saying I relate to her, but when the shoe fits… (NB Mum I’m totally kidding, LOVE YOU).

That’s it, done. I am E.X.HAUSTED. On to series two…

— 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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Ditch Grindr, there is finally a dating app for people who love bacon

Grindr? Scruff? Tinder? Who needs them when there is a dating app out there for bacon lovers?

Oscar Mayer has launched the new app, called Sizzl, for bacon lovers looking to find love. It gives you an option to look for men, women or both.

Like Tinder, it links up your Facebook so you are looking at people’s actual pictures. It then asks you a series of questions to better find out what kind of bacon lover you are.

‘What kind of bacon do you love the most?’ they ask. ‘Pork, Turkey or Both?’

And also, ‘If you’re on a date and there’s one strip of bacon left, you…take it obviously, generously give it away, or split it?’

Once you have filled out the short questionnaire, you then start looking for potential dates and rate them by how much ‘sizzl’ you feel for them.

Does this bacon dating app make you sizzle?

According to the Oscar Mayer website, Sizzl is ‘a real dating app for bacon lovers’ and offers users the chance to connect with thousands of ‘like-minded lovers who share your selective taste in bacon’.

The app is currently only available for Apple phones and products.

The post Ditch Grindr, there is finally a dating app for people who love bacon appeared first on Gay Star News.

Joe Morgan

www.gaystarnews.com/article/ditch-grindr-there-is-finally-a-dating-app-for-people-who-love-bacon/

Music Director Loses Job at Two Churches After Coming Out as Transgender

After coming out as transgender, Lindsey found herself unemployed after her positions at two churches were terminated.
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/music-director-loses-job-at-two-churches-after-coming-out-as-transgender?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Kim Davis to Megyn Kelly: ‘No Way’ I’d Give My Gay Child a Marriage License

Rowan County, Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis sat down with FOX News anchor Megyn Kelly last night to talk about her refusal to issue marriage license to gay couples, her time in jail, her reasoning behind the refusals, and whether she’ll resign.

Said Davis:

“Marriage is defined as one man and one woman. It’s not like black and white. You’re not talking about a racial issue…So you have millions of Christians who object this whole same-sex marriage issue. Are their rights invalid? Are their rights not worth anything? It’s a valid point. It’s a fight that’s worth fighting for.”

Kelly says President Obama talked about religious liberty in America and asks Davis if she believes it exists.

“In 2015 when a county clerk can go to jail because she is upholding her religious beliefs, I would have to question his statement.”

Adding:

“Megyn when I gave my life to the Lord, I vowed to serve him with my whole heart mind, body, and soul every bit of strength I had, and to me that’s a vow I want to keep, because that’s a Heaven or Hell issue to me….Do you know how many thumbs up I got, people in jail, hardened criminals in there for over 10 years, got messages to let her know we’re praying for her.”

Watch:

Kelly asked Davis about being released from jail and what she felt at that insane rally:

“The presence of God was very strong there. It was overwhelming. I was totally unprepared for that…It was like electric up there.”

About those who say hateful things about her:

“What people say about me does not define who I am. My God has transformed me.”

RELATED: Kim Davis Says She Has Gay Friends. Where Are They?

And the hardest part of the last few weeks?

“The hardest part was when Judge Bunning called my deputies in. When he called my deputies in to force and coerce them to follow his order, I told them, my conscience is mine and yours is yours. You’ll have to make a decision. I love you all and I will not lead you like sheep to the slaughter.”

If one of her children were gay….

“I wouldn’t write them a marriage license. I would love them. I love all people. But I would not write them a marriage license. I have love in my heart for everyone. Everyone has a soul Megan and that’s what we’re bound as Christians to love and to reach for. “

How do you think you’ve come out of it, villain or heroine?

“Depends on if you love God or not what side you’re on.”

Will she resign?

“If I resign, I lose my voice. Why should I have to quit a job that I’m good at? I’ve been a county employee and I’ve served the public well for 26 years before I got elected.They can accommodate for all sorts of other issues, and we ask for one simple accommodation and we cannot receive it. It just does not seem right.?”

The post Kim Davis to Megyn Kelly: ‘No Way’ I’d Give My Gay Child a Marriage License appeared first on Towleroad.

Andy Towle

Kim Davis to Megyn Kelly: ‘No Way’ I’d Give My Gay Child a Marriage License

Listen to Sia’s new single written from the perspective of Adele (as in THAT Adele)

Bisexual singer-songwriter and superstar Sia has revealed her new single from her forthcoming album This Is Acting.

Written from the perspective of Adele, the song Alive is a belting powerhouse of a ballad. It’s exactly what you would expect from both Adele and Sia.

‘It’s about Adele’s life, so I now sing a song from Adele’s perspective,’ Sia recently said about the song.

‘This is the first song from the new project. I’m calling it This Is Acting because they are songs I was writing for other people, so I didn’t go into thinking, “This is something I would say.” It’s more like play-acting. It’s fun.’

Sia has previously written for several artists, including Beyoncé, Madonna and Rihanna.

Listen below:

The post Listen to Sia’s new single written from the perspective of Adele (as in THAT Adele) appeared first on Gay Star News.

Joe Morgan

www.gaystarnews.com/article/listen-to-sias-new-single-written-from-the-perspective-of-adele-as-in-that-adele/

What the Daraprim Price Gouging Means for You

Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO Martin Shkreli ignited a firestorm this week when news broke that his company increased the cost of Daraprim, a vital part of treating toxoplasmosis — which disproportionally affects patients with HIV and AIDS — by more than 4,000%, from $18.50 to $750 per pill.

Many called for a boycott of the company, but it’s hard to boycott a drug if you’ll die without it. Judith Aberg from the HIV Medicine Association estimates that patients could wind up paying upwards of $150 per pill out of pocket, even with insurance. To put this in perspective, a common course of treatment could now cost upwards of $63,000 — up from a more reasonable $1,130 just a month ago. The story even inspired Hillary Clinton to announce her plan to cap out-of-pocket drug expenses to $250 per month.

After the scandal sent his stock prices spiraling, Shkreli announced that he would be lowering the cost of the drug, although he has not yet specified by how much. Clinton had a succinct, elegant response, tweeting the word “Good” in reply. But until pharmaceutical companies face this kind of scrutiny over all their pricing practices, and we have stricter measures in place to prevent this kind of abuse, this just isn’t good enough for the people who need these drugs to survive.

I’ve been preoccupied with the cost of HIV and AIDS medications for some time, as I am developing a narrative feature film and companion documentary on the subject. I recently spoke with HIV patients living on Medicaid in Alabama that said they could not always afford an $8 copay for their medications — capitalism doesn’t work without compassion, and there are few regulations placed on morality in business. The truth is, even if we cap out-of-pocket expenses, someone will still have to foot the bill for exorbitantly over-priced medication, and the cost will inevitably have consequences for consumers.

To understand what this scandal really means for patients who need access to Daraprim, I reached out to infectious disease specialist Dr. Kalvin Brewer-Yu, who is currently the chief integration officer at Kaiser Permanente Southern California.

Williamson: What is Daraprim? 
Brewer-Yu: Daraprim is actually a drug called pyrimethamine, which is what it’s been known as for decades. It is the cornerstone drug of a combination of two or three drugs used to treat toxoplasmosis, an infection in the brain that can cause blindness, seizures, and neurologic deficits in movement. It is acquired by ingesting the toxoplasmosis organism via undercooked meat and contamination with cat feces. People with immune system deficiencies and pregnant women are particularly at risk. 

How have you seen toxoplasmosis affect patients living with HIV?
I think every infectious disease doctor that trained in the late ’80s or early ’90s has had several HIV patients die from toxoplasmosis. If they survive, it is often with neurologic deficits such as visual problems or limb weakness. It’s a serious disease in this population, even today, and the differential diagnosis includes brain lymphoma or progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, both of which are often life-threatening. 

What’s a course of treatment for Daraprim cost?
We have to keep in mind that toxoplasmosis treatment only works with a combination of drugs, not just one. With the recent proposed price hike, the IDSA has been quoted as stating that treatment will cost at least $336,000-$600,0000 per year — just for the Daraprim alone — depending on how much you weigh. The drug is prescribed depending on weight, so this is not a “simple” one-pill-once-a-day-for-all situation. 

Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO Martin Shkreli has described this 4000% increase as a “reasonable profit, not excessive at all.” Does this mean if a patient doesn’t have insurance they could be on the line for the full cost of treatment?
If they don’t have insurance they could be facing a bill anywhere from $300,000 to $600,000 for the year. There are other drugs they have to take in combination with Daraprim, so keep that in mind. 

Are there other necessary, life-saving treatments that cost this much?
The new hepatitis C drugs in the last two years have similar pricing, and HIV medications are also expensive. Although it must be said, there has rarely been a drug that has been generic and inexpensive for decades that suddenly shot up in price like this. It is quite shocking actually, but in line with recent expensive medications and likely inspired by the ability of other drug companies to make such a profit. 

Shkreli has also said they needed to increase profits to research better treatments — in your medical opinion, is a new treatment for toxoplasmosis needed or is Daraprim effective? 
I don’t believe this is the case; in fact, the part of the therapy that some patients do not like is the other drugs that they have to take up to four times a day. But Daraprim is not that drug. The argument falls flat when you consider which drug has been hiked up in price. The other point is, anybody can say they are trying to “make things better for the future,” but the reality is this particular action will make things worse immediately, and overnight. 

As a medical professional, do you feel that we should we have regulations in place to prevent abuses in the healthcare industry?  
I feel like the word “regulation” has so much negative connotation attached to it, that it would be a disservice to invoke that particular word. What we need is reasonable pricing so that people don’t lose their homes or ability to be financially stable just because they happened to get infected with something. The same can be said for drugs used to treat some forms of cancer, HIV, rheumatologic diseases, and hepatitis C. We need a reasonable, separate third party not involved in the stakes of financial gain to mediate drug prices, such that pharmaceutical companies can thrive without bankrupting the patients or rendering the therapies unaffordable. It’s hard to watch someone die when you can see the drug in your local pharmacy just sitting on the shelf.

DR. KALVIN BREWER-YU is the chief integration officer at Kaiser Permanente Southern California and an associate research professor at the College of Global Health at NYU.

KIT WILLIAMSON is an actor, filmmaker and activist living in New York City. He best known for playing the role of Ed Gifford on Mad Men and creating the LGBT series EastSiders, which recently premiered its second season exclusively on Vimeo On Demand. 

Kit Williamson

www.advocate.com/hiv-aids/2015/9/24/what-daraprim-price-gouging-means-you

On the "A" w/Souleo: Bionka, Trans Star of New Show Transcendent </em>is Ready to Open Up
Is the mainstream media visibility of transgender women such as Laverne Cox and Caitlyn Jenner a passing fad or not? It is a question that causes Bionka to pause and reflect on the long journey of raising awareness for the transgender community. As one of the stars of the new docu-series Transcendent, Bionka is stepping into the spotlight and she intends to stay there, along with other trans public figures.

“It is amazing how America has been catapulted into the trans issue. I don’t think this is momentary,” she said. “The more we raise awareness the more you will see us popping up. We were in the shadows and now we are in the light and we will flourish.”

On Transcendent transgender cabaret entertainers at San Francisco’s Asia SF invite viewers into their lives to share their personal, professional and romantic ups and downs. Bionka, who balances performing at Asia SF with her social service work in the trans community isn’t afraid to let it all hang out. A central part of her storyline is her desire to undergo sex reassignment surgery (SRS). It is a part of the transgender journey for some that even the likes of Cox, Janet Mock and Carmen Carrera shun discussing. But Bionka views such openness as educational.

“I think I might have been more reserved discussing it (SRS) but it’s something I put out there. I cannot take it back. I think the show will help to better educate the public about our trans issues–medical or not. Everyone watching our show will see we are just human beings.”

Transcendent debuts Wednesday, September 30 (11:30 p.m. EDT, FUSE).

Transphobic violence issue takes center stage at Courage Awards

The transgender community may be gaining visibility but it is also facing what some refer to as an “epidemic” of transphobic violence. According to The Advocate, 19 trans women (mostly of color) have been murdered in the U.S. so far this year. On September 16, the New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP) hosted its 19th Annual Courage Awards at the Broad Street Ballroom. The organization which provides social services, advocacy and education to end violence against LGBTQ and HIV-affected communities and allies honored television icon Phil Donahue, law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and community advocate Armani Teighlor.

Teighlor, a trans woman of color was one of the evening’s highlights sharing an emotional and sobering story of having experienced violence just a few days prior to the event.

“On Sunday night while walking to the subway a man yelled transphobic and homophobic slurs. Someone stopped me to see if I was okay. The man came back toward me and punched me in the face,” she recalled. “I saw a police officer and called out for help. But when he came over I was shocked when he arrested me after being assaulted. I share this attack because I believe I was profiled as a trans woman of color. This happens to us every single day and it is unfortunate. It takes courage to stand here tonight in your presence after the violence I just experienced this past week. But this is the best way to educate community members about the works that needs to be done to ensure we are all safe from violence.”

As of October 13, AVP’s mission will fall under the leadership of the organization’s new executive director, Beverly Tillery. Her nearly 30-year career includes advocacy, organizing and leadership work for social justice organizations such as Lambda Legal, ACORN, Amnesty International and SEIU. Tillery gave insight into her advocacy strategy by underscoring the intersectionality of various forms of oppression.

“We are not going to be able to do this work without recognizing intersections and how people with multiple areas of oppression are impacted greatly by violence, homophobia, transphobia and racism,” she said. “If we want to end violence we have to change the culture and how we think about our communities and support them. We must understand that racism is a serious player here. It is a root cause.”

The weekly column, On the “A” w/Souleo, covers the intersection of the arts, culture entertainment and philanthropy in Harlem and beyond and is written by Souleo, founder and president of event/media content production company Souleo Enterprises LLC.

— 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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Surgeons slam trans beauty pageant for giving gender surgery as top prize

Surgeons have condemned a UK beauty pageant for trans women for offering gender reassignment surgery in India as its top prize.

Among the prizes for Miss Transgender 2015, ‘the winner will be awarded a voucher for full gender correction surgery in India inclusive of all hospital, travel and accommodation worth over £10,000’ ($15,260 €13,630).

But some trans people feel that offering something so basic for good health as gender reassignment surgery as a prize trivializes trans health needs.

If the winner has already had gender reassignment surgery, they can swop for procedures including body sculpting, breast augmentation or facial feminisation. The winners of five regional heats will also get vouchers for facial feminisation procedures.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) is concerned.

Consultant plastic surgeon and BAAPS member Marc Pacifico said: ‘No ethical clinic or surgeon would ever offer to perform surgery as a prize for a beauty contest.

‘Any surgery should be carefully thought through, and any patient assessed for pre-existing medical conditions – not simply awarded surgery without having met with or discussed a surgical plan with the operating surgeon, or given time to cool off after consultation to weigh the risks as well as benefits of surgery.

‘The pressure to go ahead with a surgery (or in this case, a series of surgeries) would be tremendous, leaving the patient to making irreversible decisions in circumstances of hype, excitement and emotion, putting themselves at great risk, which could have disastrous psychological as well as physical consequences.

‘Furthermore, this prize stipulates a time limit, further pressurising the winner into having surgery.’

Pacifico is also worried the surgery is being offered abroad.

He added: ‘There can be language barriers limiting the patient’s ability to communicate a problem; and there is a lack of follow-up care, especially upon returning home.

‘If there is a complication – since no surgery is 100% guaranteed – the patient is left with no recourse, which can have dangerous, sometimes tragic repercussions.’

Jess Bradley of Action for Trans Health is concerned the pageant promotes unrealistic beauty standards.

She told GSN: ‘To provide basic healthcare as a prize for the most beautiful, according to standards most trans women may not be able to meet, is deeply harmful to trans women’s mental health.

‘It plays into the idea that our healthcare needs are cosmetic and elective rather than vital and fundamentally necessary for all trans women, regardless of how you look.’

Miss Transgender UK has defended the prize saying the terms and conditions of state ‘only participants who have given their informed consent in advance and in writing will be eligible to be considered for …medical treatment’, and this consent must be certified by ‘a magistrate or another person of similar standing’.

A list of rules also insist on screening by psychiatrists and much more. They say this protects the contestants.

In a statement issued to GSN, the organizers added: ‘Participants in Miss Transgender UK may decline the donation of medical treatment. Their informed consent is a cornerstone of receiving this donation.’

And they hit back at their critics.

‘Sadly, it is reported that the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons the trade body representing high priced elective cosmetic surgeons is attacking Miss Transgender UK and its participants in a clear attempt to protect “jobs for the boys”.

‘This is at the same time its members freely advertise their wears in newspapers, on the high street and in clinics and hospitals up and down the country.’

They believe the prize will be welcomed, particularly by trans people who have not yet had gender-affirming surgery.

‘At a time when the average wait for such treatment on the NHS is five-and-a-half years and many transgender people attempt suicide before getting the medical treatment they need, it is awful that a professional body should try to stop vulnerable transgender people getting treatment from whatever source they choose,’ the statement added.

The contest has been organized for the first time this year. The voucher for surgery in India is valid until March 2016.

The winner of the pageant will be announced at an event in London on Sunday (27 October). They will also win £5,000 ($7,630 €6,800) cash.

The post Surgeons slam trans beauty pageant for giving gender surgery as top prize appeared first on Gay Star News.

Jane Fae

www.gaystarnews.com/article/surgeons-slam-trans-beauty-pageant-for-giving-gender-surgery-as-top-prize/

Dealing With Homophobic Internet Bullies

A few days ago I stumbled upon a rather vindictive online attack against my family and me. A Mormon blogger and pundit spitefully titled his post “Yes, your gay family is as fake as the day is long” while slapping a picture of my husband, my daughter, and myself at the top of his diatribe. 

I wasn’t sure if I should laugh at the absurdity of this person’s angry rebuke or be offended. Being mocked on the Internet by someone you have never met is an experience that’s, honestly, hard to describe.

Having an entire blog post labeling my life fake, insulting my family, and then denying that homophobia even exists — as this blogger strives to do — is both surprising and very, very troubling.

A few months back, when I wrote a personal piece about how the recent General Conference remarks from one of the Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints affected me as a gay parent and Mormon convert, I figured there might be some backlash. Never read the comments section, is what my editor wisely told me.

Overall, I knew the risks and was glad I put my heart into my op-ed. I was happy with how I used my column to express my insights on Elder L. Tom Perry’s speech asserting my family was somehow counterfeit because it consists of two gay fathers. I felt I had presented my perspective in a clear, concise, and honest way.

After it went live, I braced myself for some of my stalwart LDS friends to take issue with my views — one did indeed text me to say my piece, while well-written, was also borderline salacious and libelous. We bantered over it, we briefly battled over it, and ultimately we agreed to disagree and moved on. Our friendship was, thankfully, stronger than our divergent views.

Beyond this one contentious moment with my friend — a friend who baptized me into the Mormon faith at the age of 18 — I was surprised at the overall support I received from my fellow Mormons. That is, up until this delightfully awful “fake family” post crossed my path.

Now, I’m a firm believer that everyone has a right to their opinion and the expression of said opinion. I don’t, however, believe that having the right to express your views gives you a license to attack, insult, and name-call.

Seeing my life called fake honestly doesn’t sting or hurt me. But I can’t deny the fact that this toxic rhetoric is a form of Internet bullying under the guise of righteous, better-than-you religious privilege.

The blogger’s post is so weighted down with gospel principles in an effort to prove his point of view that it is gleeful in its dismissiveness of my family. In his eyes, it’s the truth. The key problem with religiously grounded truth is that it’s only truth to those who believe in said religion. To everyone else, it’s just another opinion.           

To call my family fake and to then take the picture of my family — to steal the image from my Advocate column with my husband and baby girl — and to use it as religious propaganda in a war against not only my family but the entire LGBT community is a step too far. Come after me and my husband if you must, but leave my innocent daughter out of your mean-spirited vendetta.

I’m actually quite sad for this blogger. To so vehemently classify any family that lacks the “sanction,” “revelation,” and “promise” of God as a family that is less than, not equal, and deserving of condemnation is a hateful and narrow-minded worldview.

To look at a family like mine and to judge our legitimacy in a lengthy blog post is indicative of our current cultural divide — the heated battle between the religious and the secular we see splashed across the news and in our presidential campaigns. It’s a prime example of how the religious lash out at any who question their right to discriminate based on their closely held principles.

I resist the blogger’s declaration that only a family that is ordained by a heavenly power has value. I don’t agree that the family unit was created and instituted solely “by God for the glory of God.”

There are many types of families in the world, made up of numerous and beautifully unique configurations. Many of these families do not believe or follow any religious edicts. And that’s OK. A family, regardless of how it is made up, is based on love. Love is what makes a family, not a family’s belief in God. 

In reading the post I found his efforts to silence me very telling. Five times I’m told to stop expressing myself. Five times I’m called upon to stop using my voice.

Those who use religion as a means to belittle others — to make others into something other than human — seek to silence those like me who exist outside their convictions. His response is a perfect example as to the very reason I spoke up in the first place.

If the blogger’s main goal was too pick apart my article line by line in an effort to discredit me and insult me into silence, he’s picked the wrong writer to bully. I will always speak, I will write, and I will stand against those who strive to silence my community and me.

My gay family is not fake. We’re as real as any other family. We are not less than worthy, less than equal, and certainly not less than deserving of respect and dignity. We are just three people who love each other, fiercely, deeply, and eternally. We’re living our lives and striving for the best our world has to offer. I am so blessed and thankful that I can indeed call us a family. No one can or ever will take that right away from me.

BRIAN ANDERSEN is a writer and indie comic book creator who lives in San Francisco with his husband and gorgeous baby daughter. 
Brian Andersen

www.advocate.com/commentary/2015/9/24/dealing-homophobic-internet-bullies

Survey: Grindr users back Bernie Sanders for president

The majority of Grindr users are backing Bernie Sanders for president of the United States.

Users of the gay hookup app are ‘highly engaged’ in both national and local politics, according to a new poll.

Of the 1,718 respondents, 76% say they vote in both general and presidential elections, with 64% indicating that ‘culture wars’ over LGBTI issues motivate them to vote in non-presidential elections.

More than half identified as Democrat (51%), among whom Bernie Sanders edged out Hillary Clinton 38% to 35% for the nomination.

Only 15% identifited as Republican with Donald Trump comfortably ahead of the other hopefuls with 21% of the vote. John Kasich and Jeb Bush followed next each with 7%, while Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina were both at the 5%, with the 10 others in the crowded field trailing behind.

‘LGBTQ voters reject simplistic “identity politics” and vote on much broader issues affecting them AND their fellow Americans,’ Grindr’s blog noted.

Half of all Grindr voters chose the economy as the ‘biggest issue’ facing America today. Other leading issues included immigration (10.3%) and healthcare (9.8%); while ‘minority rights’ outpolled ‘LGBT rights’ 9% to 3%, suggesting users take a holistic view of rights issues.

That said, LGBTI matters still remain front and center on Grindr guys’ minds.

Asked what was the next big issue for the LGBTI movement in the US, 41% singled out the Equality Act. Fighting HIV/AIDS drew 15% of votes, followed by ‘ensuring that states follow the law on marriage and adoption’ with 12.4% and ‘strengthening transgender rights’ with 11.5%.

The post Survey: Grindr users back Bernie Sanders for president appeared first on Gay Star News.

Darren Wee

www.gaystarnews.com/article/survey-grindr-users-back-bernie-sanders-for-president/