45 Rabbis and All 8 Bishops of the Methodist Church Call for Repeal of NC’s HB 2

Religious groups are starting to make their voices heard on North Carolina’s discriminatory anti-LGBT law with 45 rabbis and all eight bishops of the Methodist Church calling for repeal, WRAL reports:

Forty-five rabbis signed a letter expressing “deep dismay” with House Bill 2, and all eight bishops of the United Methodist Church in North Carolina issued a similar letter in recent days.

“HB2 targets one of the most vulnerable groups in our society and eviscerates their ability to participate actively in community,” Rabbi Lucy Dinner of Temple Beth Or in Raleigh said at a Tuesday afternoon news conference, shortly before rabbis held a Passover prayer service with lawmakers at the Legislative Building.

Said Dinner: “We are here to implore the North Carolina legislature and governor, let all people go – and not just to the bathroom. If only it was just about bathrooms, that would be bad enough. HB2 discriminates in so many more ways.”

The call from the rabbis followed a letter from the Methodist bishops on Monday:

The Methodist bishops’ letter, entitled “A More Excellent Way,” came out Monday – the first day of the 2016 legislative session – saying Methodists “are called to live the hospitable welcome of God in a world with increasing boundaries, borders, fences and walls.” The letter noted the “hurried passage of House Bill 2 and its resultant harm to North Carolina” in urging lawmakers to rescind the measure.

“We dare not add to the increasing levels of fear, suspicion and divisiveness in our state and in our nation. Our calling to welcome, to forgive and to love both God and neighbor is our powerful gift to the world,” Bishop Larry Goodpaster, Bishop Hope Morgan Ward and retired bishops Ray Chamberlain, Charlene Kammerer, Lawrence McCleskey, C.P. Minnick Jr., Thomas Stockton and William Willimon wrote in the letter.

Presbyterian leaders came out against the legislation shortly after it passed.

Catholic leaders have either criticized Charlotte’s LGBT ordinance (which prompted the anti-LGBT legislation) or refused to take a position on the law.

Watch WRAL’s report:

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California Isn't Having North Carolina's State-Sanctioned Bigotry

The world’s eighth-largest economy looks ready to divest itself from the Tar Heel State.

www.advocate.com/commentary/2016/4/27/california-isnt-having-north-carolinas-state-sanctioned-bigotry

The Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie trailer has hit the internet, and it’s hilarious

Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie has a new trailer – and it’s all kinds of amazing.

The video pads out the plot of the upcoming film – a spin off of the BBC series – with ageing fashionistas Eddy and Patsy accidentally pushing Kate Moss into the Thames at a party.

When it’s revealed they’ve killed the supermodel, the pair go on the run to the South of France.

The clip also features cameos from fashion designer Stella McCartney, Mad Men star Jon Hamm and Spice Girl Emma Bunton – and Patsy in full on drag king mode. Watch below.

Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie hits cinemas 22 July 2016.

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www.gaystarnews.com/article/trailer-absolutely-fabulous-movie-hits-internet/

WATCH: Gay of Thrones is back with S6E1 recap, ‘The Read Woman’

If you’re a big fan of Game of Thrones but you haven’t been catching its recaps by sassy celebrity hairstylist, Jonathan Van Ness, on Funny or Die’s ‘Gay of Thrones,’ gurrrrl, you are definitely missing out.

*spoilers*

In this week’s recap of the first episode of season 6, titled ‘The Red Woman,’ Jonathan and his co-host, Gilli, talk about how’s everyone been doin’ since the cliffhanger at the end of season 5.

So, Jon Snow is still dead — very dead — and making ‘blood angels’ on the snow.

Jonathan gives Cersei Lannister — formerly called ‘blonde Cher’ — a new name, ‘Vintage Mia Farrow,’ for sporting her short hair.

‘She is madder than a wet hen. Because she sees Brother D coming home from Arryn’s, no groceries, no dry cleaning, and dead daughter,’ said Jonathan.

‘She looked exactly like how the world felt like when we found out Prince died,’ Gilli added.

In Dorne, Ellaria Sand and her daughters, whom Jonathan calls Kris K, Kim and Khloe, betrayed Doran Martell, the ruling prince, and killed his son.

‘Then Kim and Khloe go to kill their cousin, and Khloe’s like, “I got this.” And in classic Kardashian style, Kim steals the moment,’ said Gilli.

And on to our beloved Mother of Dragons:

‘Poor Christiana, she’s at Coachella weekend 3. Everyone is sup dehydrated. Not a coconut in sight,’ Jonathan describes.

Watch the rest of the hilarity here:

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www.gaystarnews.com/article/watch-gay-thrones-back-s6e1-recap-read-woman/

Singapore pastor does not believe gay Christians deserve to be happy with who they are

A Singaporean church pastor slams the idea that gay Christians can be happy and content with their own faith and sexuality.

Senior Pastor Yang Tuck Yoong of Cornerstone Community Church in Singapore is responding to a recently posted video featuring a lesbian Christian and her friend who’s a straight ally. The video was produced and uploaded by Pink Dot, Singapore’s biggest LGBTI rally.

Yang writes on his church’s website:

‘There’s been a disturbing video that’s been making its rounds, promoting a Christian lady who’s a lesbian and Christian at the same time. She’s promoting the virtue of being a happy homosexual Christian. I find this very disturbing and misleading’

The persons featured in the video are Pastor Pauline Ong of Free Community Church and her friend, Joan.

In the video, they talk about the story of their friendship, which started 15 years ago when they met in graduate school.

Joan was suffering from depression, and was even on the verge of committing suicide at one point. However, Pauline prevented the tragedy by stepping in as her caretaker.

‘Pauline is my hero because she never gave up,’ Joan adds with tears streaming.

Watch the touching story here:

Yang lambasts Pauline for coming forth as a gay believer, and describes gay Christians as being an oxymoron.

‘A homosexual Christian is an oxymoron. You cannot live a lifestyle that the Bible condemns and say you’re a believer in Jesus Christ at the same time,’ says Yang.

He further condemns Pauline’s story as ‘deceptive for untaught people.’

‘Her misleading testimony represents an insidious attempt to corrupt, undermine, distort and confuse the basic tenets of our Christian faith,’ Yang continues.

‘Please read your Bible and don’t misquote it. I assure you that a practicing homosexual will not see the insides of heaven if they continue down this path.’

Since the release of the video, Pauline’s church has issued a comprehensive FAQ to educate people on the issues of faith and sexuality (as well as to school some bigoted minds).

On the question of whether the Bible condemn LGBTQ persons, here’s what the FAQ says:

‘Nowhere in the Bible is a person condemned for their gender identity or sexual orientation. When someone says the Bible condemns “homosexuality”, they usually mean behaviour that they think God finds unacceptable.

‘The Bible condemns lust and immorality of any sort (whether heterosexual or homosexual). But nowhere does the Bible discuss same-sex attractions or how to live as a Christian if you have such feelings.

‘These are subjects where we must seek God’s heart through prayer and the guidance that we do have in Scripture.’

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www.gaystarnews.com/article/singapore-pastor-gay-christian-disturbing/

Rachel Maddow: 'Democratic Contest Is Effectively Over'

Rachel Maddow is painting a new statement from Bernie Sanders as a concession.

www.advocate.com/election/2016/4/26/rachel-maddow-democratic-contest-effectively-over

Gay Men’s Chorus of LA pays moving tribute to Prince at Voice Awards

Prince had died just two days earlier and the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles found a powerful way to pay tribute at their 5th annual Voice Awards over the weekend.

Aftershock, the chorus’ new A cappella group, performed the Prince classic When Doves Cry as a giant portrait of the late artist appeared on the screen behind them at the Dolby Ballroom Hollywood.

Actor Wilson Cruz was next onstage after the performance and said of Prince: ‘I miss him already. I’ve been crying all week. In the last couple of days, we have remembered the power of art in our lives.’

The evening’s co-host, NCIS star Pauley Perrette, kicked off the evening with the lyrics to the Prince classic Let’s Go Crazy: ‘Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life.’

She further paid tribute by saying: ‘I’m a crazy, life-long Prince fan – I changed out of my Purple rain T-shirt just for you people. there was something about Prince. Whoever you are, whatever you want to be … look at him – he was just Prince. It was just so inspiring.’

Perrette co-hosted the event with Ross Mathews and they were joined by celebrity presenters that included Paula Abdul, Transparent star Amy Landecker and The Biggest Loser host Bob Harper.

Honored were: Abbe Land, executive director of The Trevor Project (Good Neighbor Voice Award); Syrian journalist and activist Subhi Nahas (Outspoken Voice Award) and Focus Features (Visionary Voice Award).

The evening also featured several numbers by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles who were joined on True Colors by the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles.

Nearly a half a million dollars were raised to benefit GMCLA’s It Gets better Tour and Alive Music Project youth outreach programs.

The post Gay Men’s Chorus of LA pays moving tribute to Prince at Voice Awards appeared first on Gay Star News.

www.gaystarnews.com/article/gay-mens-chorus-la-pays-tribute-prince-voice-awards/