Watch live via Periscope as GSN’s artist paints Alan Turing for Digital Pride

He was the code breaker who helped the Allies beat the Nazis during World War II and the father of modern computing.

But Alan Turing was also the tortured soul who had to hide his homosexuality from a country that persecuted him for it, eventually leading to his death.

Who better to celebrate with a new portrait during the first Digital Pride than Alan Turing?

And where better to create the painting than in the LGBT Foundation building in his home city of Manchester.

It’s been commissioned by DIY experts Wickes and will be created using their materials.

You can watch this new artwork, by Gay Star News creative director Scott Nunn, take shape here via Twitter’s Periscope:

LIVE on #Periscope: Live painting with Wickes and the LGBT Foundation #DigitalPride t.co/8QgktaRBfA

— Digital Pride (@digi_pride) April 27, 2016

And wonder if even this far-sighted genius could have imagined his own innovations in computing could one day help LGBTI people like him unite and allow us to celebrate his legacy in this way.

The post Watch live via Periscope as GSN’s artist paints Alan Turing for Digital Pride appeared first on Gay Star News.

www.gaystarnews.com/article/live-periscope-alan-turing-painting/

Twins Aaron & Austin Rhodes Reveal How They Came Out To Each Other In High School

Twins Austin and Aaron Rhodes grew to YouTube fame when they decided to film their emotional coming out to their dad, posting a video that has since been viewed over 22 million times.

Now they’ve posted a new video sharing how they came out to each other as high school seniors, and it’s pretty damn cute.

Related: When You And Your Sibling Are Both Gay, Things Can Get Interesting

Aaron was the first to bring it up. He’d fallen hard for another guy, and decided to share the news with his brother:

“I’m seeing somebody and it may or may not be a girl … so obviously I’m gay and I’m dating a guy,” he recalls saying in the video below.

After he was finished telling Austin about his new boyfriend, Austin said, “I like guys too.”

Aaron looks back on it now and says, “‘It was one of those moments – and I’ll never forget it – where we just finally caught up with each other. … It ended up with two little gay best friends who happen to be brothers.”

Watch below: 

h/t GayStarNews

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/koj1IaB-cXo/twins-aaron-austin-rhodes-reveal-how-they-came-out-to-each-other-in-high-school-20160427

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:

The post 45 Rabbis and All 8 Bishops of the Methodist Church Call for Repeal of NC’s HB 2 appeared first on Towleroad.

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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.

The post The Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie trailer has hit the internet, and it’s hilarious appeared first on Gay Star News.

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:

The post WATCH: Gay of Thrones is back with S6E1 recap, ‘The Read Woman’ appeared first on Gay Star News.

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.’

The post Singapore pastor does not believe gay Christians deserve to be happy with who they are appeared first on Gay Star News.

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