‘I Am a Man’ Brings One Gay Vlogger’s Insecurities Into the Open: WATCH

Jonny Benjamin is a UK vlogger who is bringing mental health issues to YouTube by documenting his own recovery.

“I want to break the silence and remove the stigma attached to mental illness, as well as giving hope to those who are suffering that it does get better.”

Benjamin recently posted a brave and revealing video about masculinity in which he talks about body image, physique, bathroom habits, hair, grooming habits, his sexual orientation, intimacy, insecurity, and his mental health issues.

I am a man…that is hoping to show other men it is ok to be who you really are.

I’ve been doing a lot of work in schools and hearing from other young boys about their insecurities inspired me to make this.

This “macho” society we have where “big boys don’t cry” is taking its toll & the lives of too many men.

I know we can change the fact that 12 men kill themselves each day in the UK. But we have to work together and change the message that men are being given to “man up and get on with it”.

I have made this video in support of CALM, the UK’s only male suicide prevention charity:
www.thecalmzone.net/

Watch:

Benjamin’s video is receiving heaps of praise from YouTube commenters, many of whom are asking him for dates.

The post ‘I Am a Man’ Brings One Gay Vlogger’s Insecurities Into the Open: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.

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One GOP Senator Is Blocking the Historic Appointment of Gay Army Secretary Nominee Eric Fanning

Despite bipartisan support, one Republican Senator is blocking the appointment of openly gay Eric Fanning (above) to the position of secretary to the Army, the highest-ranking civilian position in the largest branch of the military. Fanning is currently the Acting United States Secretary to the Army.

Although there are few questions about Fanning’s qualifications, the appointment is being held up by Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) (right), who has placed a hold on his nomination, insisting that the Obama administration tell him that it will not move any detainees from Guantánamo Bay to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The Obama administration has balked at giving Roberts any such assurances.

According to the New York Times, some Senate Republicans have said Roberts is being unreasonable and should allow Fanning’s nomination to proceed. Senator John McCain, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, has fought to get Fanning confirmed.

RELATED: Senate Panel Advances Eric Fanning, Who Would Be First Openly Gay U.S. Army Secretary

“He has completed all the requirements and come through the [Armed Services Committee],” McCain said in an interview, “and he would have no authority whatsoever over the issue of where to relocate the prisoners who are being held at Guantánamo.”

Speaking on the Senate floor at the end of last month, McCain said it was unfair to hold up Fanning’s nomination, because he would have no role in what happened to the Guantanamo detainees. However, Roberts refused to back down.

Many in the gay community believe Fanning’s confirmation will be another step forward for LGBT people in the military, but they are concerned about why the process has taken so long.

Chad Griffin, the chairman of Human Rights Campaign, said:

“What’s baffling about this is that Eric has bipartisan support from all corners and nobody disputes his qualifications, record of service or leadership, which is rare in such a high-profile job.”

Todd Harrison, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that although it “happens quite often where you have a hold…it usually resolves itself when the senator has made their point. If [Fanning’s] not confirmed soon,” he added “it won’t make much sense for him or the Army to go forward.”

In response to queries regarding his nomination, Fanning said “the White House and Senator McCain are working on this very hard, and they prefer that nominees stay in a radio silent mode.”

(Image via Wikipmedia)

Watch Fanning speak at the Armed Services Committee hearing below.

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PHOTOS: Portuguese Home Cooking, Sans Shirts

www.advocate.com/coming-out/2016/5/12/photos-portuguese-home-cooking-sans-shirts

PHOTOS: We Wish Every Hotel Room Came With An Alvaro Francisco

We get it: some men like to dress dark. Their personal spin on it can be classy or rocker-esque, maybe even (dare we say) sultry.

We took model Alvaro Francisco to a hotel room for this style guide dedicated to black and red underwear.

For more information, visit The Underwear Expert.

Photo Credit: Jerrad Matthew

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Pat McCrory Calls Loretta Lynch’s Comparison of HB2 to Jim Crow Laws an ‘Insult’ to NC: WATCH

CNN’s Jake Tapper asked North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory what he thought yesterday of Attorney General Loretta Lynch’s speech explaining why anti-LGBT HB 2 is discriminatory.

RELATED: Loretta Lynch Announces Federal Lawsuit Against NC, Tells Trans Americans ‘We See You’ – WATCH 

He wasn’t pleased, and chose to straighten Lynch’s argument out — because Lynch couldn’t possibly understand the comparison:

“It’s an insult, and it’s a political statement instead of a legal statement. It’s an insult toward our state and 10 million people that has no relevance to this issue regarding whether a gender identity individual or a boy can go into a girl’s restroom – to correlate that to civil rights marches in the ’50s and ’60s is totally irresponsible of our chief legal officer of the United States America.”

Added McCrory:

“To have the Justice Department come out with a massive interpretation of the Civil Rights Act for every employer in the United Staes now is something that I think needs clarification by the federal courts and frankly I think there’s a time where the Republicans and Democrats in Congress need to revisit the 1964 Civil Rights Act. These are complex issues and North Carolina for whatever reason politically has become the target by the Left on this agenda.”

Watch:

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Rachel Maddow: How Was the Passionate Loretta Lynch Speech Against NC’s HB2 Calculated? – WATCH

Debo Adegbile, who was President Obama’s nominee to lead the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department, joined Rachel Maddow last night to talk about the work on civil rights during the Obama administration, and also about Attorney General Loretta Lynch’s knockout speech announcing the lawsuit against the state of North Carolina over HB 2.

RELATED: Loretta Lynch Announces Federal Lawsuit Against NC, Tells Trans Americans ‘We See You’ – WATCH 

Asked Maddow:

“I wasn’t surprised that the Justice Department decided to sue North Carolina over this discriminatory law they’ve got, this LGBT discrimination law. I was surprised by the passion and the public comments, the forceful and moving public comments from the Attorney General when she announced that lawsuit…really putting a lot of passion and words for public consumption alongside that legal action. I wonder if you can tell me how you calculate something like that?”

Replied Adegbile:

“I think it’s very important as does the Attorney General and she spoke so eloquently and passionately and from the heart. The Attorney General and the people in the justice department – they have a couple of tools at their disposal, they have a few. Certainly they have policy statements and pronouncements, they have litigation, which is the primary tool that they use to advance the work of the Justice Department and the civil rights division, but they also have a platform and that platform needs to be used in the context of those other things to articulate the underlying values, and they are values that the Congress and that our nation has embraced over a period of time and after walking a very long and hard road so for the attorney general to come to that mic and express heartfelt values and to talk about the impact that discrimination can have for individuals, it is a moment that I think will be remembered, and that she will be remembered for.”

Watch:

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What Happened When the Feds Stopped Whispering About Trans Equality

U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch’s statement supporting trans rights was more than profound — it may have altered the course of history, says this trans woman and activist. 

www.advocate.com/commentary/2016/5/12/what-happened-when-feds-stopped-whispering-about-trans-equality

The Long Evolution of Target

www.advocate.com/politics/2016/5/12/long-evolution-target

How White and Latino Gay Men Come Out Differently

Exiting the closet is often a very different experience for varying groups, according to a researcher.

www.advocate.com/commentary/2016/5/12/how-white-and-latino-gay-men-come-out-differently