The Age of Loneliness on BBC1 is a story we should all share in

January 7, 2016 GayFriendschat.com

The Age of Loneliness on BBC1 is a story we should all share in
She’s recently split up with her husband; he moved back to New Zealand, leaving her alone … Every story here is a personal plea for kindness, for company, whether it’s a chat with the cashier at the supermarket, a punt on an internet dating site or …

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Celebrity Big Brother: Winston McKenzie comments spark complaints

January 7, 2016 GayFriendschat.com

Celebrity Big Brother: Winston McKenzie comments spark complaints
His fellow housemates John Partridge and Christopher Maloney are openly gay. An Ofcom spokesman said 3 52 complaints … was less than impressed by the pair’s chat. In a separate room, he said: “By the way, just so you know, I don’t survive conversations …

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Proposed LGBT bill leaves out transgender rights in Indiana

January 7, 2016 GayFriendschat.com

Proposed LGBT bill leaves out transgender rights in Indiana
A Republican state senator who previously proposed granting Indiana civil rights protections to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people … Frontier Airlines is adding over 40 new flights across the United States, including between Indianapolis …

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Trans man "humilated" at AUS airport

January 7, 2016 GayFriendschat.com

Trans man "humilated" at AUS airport
A transgender man says he was humiliated by airport staff in Australia who forcibly removed his prosthetic … a Senate committee inquiry on airport and aviation security reports Gay Star News. The airport security staff member is said to have put on …

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Congress Partially Lifts Federal Ban on Funding for Syringe Exchange Programs

January 7, 2016 GayFriendschat.com

Congress Partially Lifts Federal Ban on Funding for Syringe Exchange Programs

Despite a lack of positive action on LGBT equality issues in this current Congress, every now and then something positive and life-saving happens. In the waning days of the 2015 congressional session, Congress took a significant step to help reduce the transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and other bloodborne pathogens spread through injection drug use.

As part of its major year-end spending bill for FY 2016, a partial lifting of the federal ban on funding syringe exchange programs was included. Now the federal government can, and hopefully will, make resources available to pay for program supplies and staff expenses. Local funds or private funds will have to cover the direct costs of syringes and needles. Fortunately, these are least expensive items for these highly effective HIV prevention programs.

After the ban had been in place for more than two decades, HRC successfully lobbied to have the ban fully repealed in 2009. Unfortunately, when Republicans regained control of the House in 2011, they reinstated the ban. Removing the funding ban has been one of HRC’s legislative priorities for addressing HIV/AIDS.

The recent rise in opioid and heroin abuse forced lawmakers to consider additional options to respond to the problem, and the corresponding rise in new cases of HIV and Hepatitis C. Ironically, a similar war on drugs two decades ago was responsible for instituting the ban. In the intervening years, the evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of syringe exchange programs has grown, and fears that they would lead to further abuse, were found to be untrue.

This year, HRC is taking the next step, and will be working with our allies on Capitol Hill to have Congress provide the resources for these critical prevention programs to operate in communities across the country.

www.hrc.org/blog/congress-partially-lifts-federal-ban-on-funding-for-syringe-exchange-progra?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

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Vote for acceptance. Know the facts about LGBT issues this election.

January 7, 2016 GayFriendschat.com

Vote for acceptance. Know the facts about LGBT issues this election.

This election year, more than ever, LGBT and allied voters are critical to accelerating acceptance all across the country. Whether building towards electing the next president, voting on local and national representatives, or deciding on ballot initiatives, every vote counts in the movement towards acceptance for everyone.

As we move to create not just a system of legal equality but also a culture of full acceptance, GLAAD is offering a series of resources about LGBT-related policy and legal issues for both voters and the media professionals who inform them.

These resources will empower voters to cast informed ballots about LGBT-related matters, as well as the media to report fairly and accurately about oft-misunderstood matters that impact the daily lives of LGBT Americans. Throughout the election season, GLAAD will continue to hold newsmakers accountable and ensure that they are asking the right questions and giving fair coverage to the myriad issues that are important to the LGBT community.

Though we all rejoiced when marriage equality became the law of the land, the LGBT movement has never been about one single legal issue, and our work is far from finished. We still live in a culture in which not all LGBT people feel comfortable walking down the street, using the bathroom that corresponds with their gender, or having a picture of their partner on their desk at work.

Full legal protections are not a reality for LGBT people, including the right to work without being fired for who you are, adopting and having children without discriminatory legal obstacles, access to fair voting and affordable healthcare, safety from targeted acts of violence or bullying, dismantling racism that undermines the well-being of LGBT people of color, and more.

Visit glaad.org/vote to learn more about the serious issues that face the LGBT community and to share these resources on social media channels to help spread the word about the work we still must do to ensure equality and above all else, acceptance for everyone.

January 7, 2016

Issues: