Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Lane, Tituss Burgess, and Daniel Franzese Ask: ‘Why Aren’t We Talking About HIV/AIDS?’ – WATCH

A new PSA from GLAAD and the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation asks a simple but important question about HIV and AIDS: Why aren’t we talking about it?

The PSA is the second video as part of a campaign highlighting the unfinished work left in the fight against HIV/ AIDS. The previous PSA was launched in October of last year and was a call to action to continue the fight against the disease that has taken millions of lives.

Both ads invoke Elizabeth Taylor’s famed speech at the 1992 Freddie Mercury Tribute concert.

GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said of the campaign,

“GLAAD was founded in order to combat the sensationalized media coverage surrounding the HIV and AIDS crisis in the 80s, and we have been committed to this cause ever sinceThis campaign will help bring more awareness HIV and AIDS and remind everyone that we have the power to end this epidemic in our lifetime.”

The PSA features Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Lane, Tituss Burgess, and Daniel Franzese, who point out that even 20 years after Taylor’s historic speech, an estimated 1 in 5 gay men in major U.S. cities are living with HIV, and that today, we have the tools to make HIV history. The PSA will air on Logo beginning today.

Joel Goldman, Managing Director of The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation added,

“HIV infection rates are up 133% in last decade among young gay men. It’s troubling that 1 in 3 gay men have never had an HIV test. We must find new ways of raising awareness in order to reach this community and inform them of the tools available to prevent new infections. We are so fortunate to have the support from Logo as well as our incredible partners at GLAAD on this PSA campaign.”

Watch the stirring video, below.

The post Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Lane, Tituss Burgess, and Daniel Franzese Ask: ‘Why Aren’t We Talking About HIV/AIDS?’ – WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.

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Media Outlets Are Reporting 1 Million People Are Boycotting Target. Here’s The Truth.

No, a million people are not boycotting Target.

The post Media Outlets Are Reporting 1 Million People Are Boycotting Target. Here’s The Truth. appeared first on ThinkProgress.

thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2016/04/28/3773580/target-boycott-reality/

Bill Banning Discrimination Against Transgender Patients Heads to Hawaii Governor’s Desk

On Tuesday, the Hawaii Legislature passed a vital bill to protect transgender citizens from discrimination in healthcare coverage. House Bill 2084 prohibits health insurers from denying, excluding or limiting healthcare coverage on the basis of gender identity. The bill now heads to Governor David Ige for approval. If signed into law, it would take effect on January 1, 2017.

The unfortunate reality is that many healthcare plans contain explicitly discriminatory “transgender exclusions” that prohibit coverage for medical care related to gender transition, otherwise known as transition-related health care. Even when healthcare plans do not explicitly contain “transgender exclusions,” coverage of transition-related care is still often denied and falsely perceived by the insurer to be not medically necessary. Transgender people are even denied coverage for many of the procedures routinely provided to people who are not transgender.

These discriminatory exclusions persist despite the fact that the nation’s top professional health associations — including the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association — have unequivocally affirmed that transition-related healthcare is medically necessary for the health and well-being of many transgender people.

Prohibiting these discriminatory practices is a matter of basic fairness and equality. Like everyone else, transgender people deserve equal access to essential medically necessary care. Their health and well-being depend on it.

HRC engaged its members across the state and submitted testimony in support of House Bill 2084.

More information on transgender-inclusive health benefits can be found here.

www.hrc.org/blog/bill-banning-discrimination-against-transgender-patients-heads-to-hawaii-go?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

South Carolina's anti-trans bill defeated, sponsor threatens new bills

www.glaad.org/blog/south-carolinas-anti-trans-bill-defeated-sponsor-threatens-new-bills

Alabama Chief Justice: Trans People Have a 'Mental Disorder'

Chief Justice Roy Moore called a trans protester a “known transvestite.”

www.advocate.com/politics/2016/4/28/alabama-chief-justice-trans-people-have-mental-disorder

This trans girl’s photograph is showing people around the world how stupid bathroom bills are

If this was your daughter, would you be comfortable sending her into a men’s bathroom?

That is the question that is changing hearts and minds around the world.

As North Carolina and other cities across the US have passed bills that prohibits transgender people from using the bathroom that reflects their gender identity, more and more people are seeing the idiocy and discrimination of this kind of legislation.

Showing a picture of trans child Corey Maisen, photographer Meg Bitton says: ‘If this was YOUR daughter, would you be comfortable sending her into a men’s bathroom? Neither would I. Be fair. Be kind. Be empathetic. Treat others how you would like to be treated.’

The photo, which has been shared thousands of times, has many comments. While some are them are transphobic, many say they have changed their minds because of the photo.

‘It is impossible to moderate this post, try as we may,’ Bitton added. ‘I want to delete it as badly as I don’t want to delete it. I decided to let Corey’s mother make that call and she asked for it to stay to raise awareness so it will. PLEASE BE ASSURED that I do not in anyway support the trolling insanity I am seeing here and I VERY MUCH appreciate all the positivity around Corey as does she AND her family.’

Of course, these bathroom bills are not just targeting trans people who can ‘pass’. Anyone who does not present as someone’s idea of ‘male’ and ‘female’ is in danger of arrest and fines.

The post This trans girl’s photograph is showing people around the world how stupid bathroom bills are appeared first on Gay Star News.

www.gaystarnews.com/article/trans-girls-photograph-showing-people-around-world-stupid-bathroom-bills/

Caitlyn Ridicules Ted Cruz After Taking A Leak At A Trump Hotel

Caitlyn Jenner mocked presidential candidate Ted Cruz after stopping by one of Donald Trump‘s properties to use the restroom. In a video posted to Facebook, the transgender celebrity popped into the Trump International Hotel to take a leak — and make a political statement.

Last week Trump was asked about his opinion of the discriminatory bathroom bans being pushed by the religious right. He responded by saying that Caitlyn Jenner could use any restroom she chose at any of his properties and blasted North Carolina‘s new law dictating which restroom transgender people can use.

“There have been very few complaints the way it is. People go, they use the bathroom that they feel is appropriate,” he said. “There has been so little trouble.”

Cruz, however, has been using Trumps anti-discrimination stance against him on the campaign trail. “Grown adult men, strangers, should not be alone in a bathroom with little girls,” Cruz said, adding that it’s “just common sense.”

Cruz has continued to attack transgender people and Trump, bringing the subject up in speeches, selling derogatory merchandise on his campaign website, and pushing out attack ads with lines like: “Should a grown man pretending to be a woman be allowed to use the women’s restroom? The same restroom used by your daughter? Your wife?Donald Trump thinks so.”

H/t: LGBTQ Nation

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George Takei Urges Democrats to Unify: ‘Vote Blue No Matter Who’ – WATCH

Activist and actor George Takei is making an appeal for party unity as the Democratic primary season draws to a close.

Takei has been an outspoken supporter of Bernie Sanders throughout the campaign. In a new video he posted on Facebook, Takei says that Sanders has connected to issues he feels passionately about such as income inequality and campaign finance reform.

Yet after Hillary Clinton’s 4 victories on Tuesday night in the ‘Acela Primary’, Takei believes that Clinton is the likely Democratic nominee and that all Democrats should unite around her candidacy. He urges, “Vote Blue No Matter Who.”

Takei says,

“…having been through many bruising primaries in my life, I’m also a realist. From where I sit, the math is clear: Hillary likely will win, and she will be our nominee. But that doesn’t mean Bernie didn’t also win. He won in a myriad of vital ways – none more so than energizing the Democratic base in a way no one expected.”

Young people in particular have become so passionate about this election, because they recognize its historic importance. At stake is nothing less than the very soul of our nation. So, I’m asking Democrats out there to take a pledge, along with me. Vote blue no matter who.

“Ultimately, we Democrats know that a bit of a tussle isn’t a bad thing. It makes us stronger. Keeps us sharp. And really, it’s like a family squabble, where only family, those very close to us, can truly get under our skin. But remember this, too: It’s precisely because we like and respect each other that the words and criticisms sting as much as they do.

“But here’s the other thing about family. We come together when threatened. And come together we will, in November. Bernie himself has said that, ‘On her worst day, Hillary Clinton will be an infinitely better candidate and president than the Republican candidate on his best day.’ If Bernie believes that, his supporters can too.”

Watch, below.

[h/t NCRM]

The post George Takei Urges Democrats to Unify: ‘Vote Blue No Matter Who’ – WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.

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NCAA Could Pull Tournament Games From North Carolina Because of Anti-LGBT Law

If North Carolina doesn’t say goodbye to HB2, it could say goodbye to March Madness.

The post NCAA Could Pull Tournament Games From North Carolina Because of Anti-LGBT Law appeared first on ThinkProgress.

thinkprogress.org/sports/2016/04/28/3773410/ncaa-anti-discrimination-lgbt-hb2/