Converse Just Released Its New Gay Pride Sneakers – PHOTOS

Converse has just debuted its new 2016 Pride Collection in honor of LGBT pride, celebrations for which are about to start kicking off around the world. June is national Pride month in the U.S. so Converse’s timing is impeccable.

Racked reports: 

This year’s collection includes a pair of rainbow Chuck Taylor All Star hi-tops in Converse’s premium woven design and another pair of hi-tops in black canvas that have been “splattered” in multicolored paint. There’s also a pair of the classic low-tops in white canvas with a similar paint splatter design.

Check out last year’s collection of Converse’s Pride Collection of Chuck Taylors HERE.

And get up close with 2016’s proudest kicks so far, below.

The post Converse Just Released Its New Gay Pride Sneakers – PHOTOS appeared first on Towleroad.

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One of San Francisco's Last Gay Porn Theaters Closing

The shuttering of the Tea Room Theatre leaves only one other adult gay theater in the queer mecca.

www.advocate.com/business/2016/5/13/one-san-franciscos-last-gay-porn-theaters-closing

“Daddy: The Movie” Is The Culmination Of All Things Gerald McCullouch

Oh, daddy!

We love a good indie gay film (keyword: good), and by the looks of it, Daddy has it all — situational office comedy, coming-of-age realness, intergenerational love and lots of drama.

What’s not to love?

Certainly not its director and star, Gerald McCullouch — that’s for sure.

You might recognize McCullouch from the Bear City trilogy, he’s just as strapping in this project.

He’s joined by the film’s screenwriter Dan Via, Smash’s Jaime Cepero, Tamlyn Tomita, Tony-winner John Rubenstein, Jay Jackson and Mackenzie Astin in a cast that looks like it’ll deliver the laughs and the gasps.

Here’s the film’s general plot:

Colin McCormack thinks he has it all — a great job, a steady stream of hot younger guys, and a best friends whose devotion he takes for granted. But when a charming and mercurial intern sweeps him off his feet, Colin sees a chance for something more: A family of his own. What he discovers instead is a shattering secret that may cost Colin everything — and everyone — he holds dear.

Escandalo!

Check out the trailer below, and head to the film’s website for info on how to stream it:

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/sBu3ann79ho/daddy-movie-culmination-things-gerald-mccullouch-20160513

When All Your Friends’ Bodies Are Ready For The Summer Except Yours

Each Friday we’ll try and bring you the perfect meme to distract you — if for just a moment — to get you through that end-of-week homestretch.

This week’s LOL comes courtesy of the seasons changing and the best-laid gym plans having fallen hopelessly by the wayside.

Any truth to it?

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/ye4gts5Hd00/friends-bodies-ready-summer-except-20160513

Josh Earnest on TX Lt. Gov Dan Patrick: This Is ‘The Risk of Electing a Right-Wing Radio Host’ – WATCH

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest blasted Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick on Friday for his remarks saying that the Lone Star state would not be blackmailed by President Barack Obama. 

Patrick was responding to guidance that came from the Obama administration on how public schools should treat transgender students.

Of Patrick’s incendiary remarks, Earnest said, “This does underscore the risk of electing a right-wing radio host to a statewide elected office,” Earnest said.

He added,

“Let’s just walk through the facts here…This is guidance issued by the Department of Education and Department of Justice in response to request for information and guidance from school administrators across the country…This is not an enforcement action.”

The Blaze reports:

Earnest claimed the White House issued the directive in response to requests from parents, teachers and students across the country. He said school administrators are more concerned about preventing “discrimination” against their students than partisan politics.

“There is obviously a question of civil rights here,” Earnest said during Friday’s White House press briefing.

USA Today adds: 

Earnest said the guidelines came from the Justice and Education departments — but conceded that President Obama was involved and consulted throughout the process.

And he said the timing was not related to North Carolina’s H.B.2, the so-called “bathroom bill” that preempts local ordinances on gay rights and requires people to use public restrooms that correspond to the sex as identified on their birth certificate.

Watch video of Earnest’s remarks, below.

The post Josh Earnest on TX Lt. Gov Dan Patrick: This Is ‘The Risk of Electing a Right-Wing Radio Host’ – WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.

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Meet ‘Boy Club’, a Silly New Take on the Gay Magazine – PHOTOS

If you’re one who enjoys the tactile experience of magazines but doesn’t care for the current crop of LGBT mags out on newsstands, you may enjoy the new quarterly periodical BOY CLUB.

The magazine is the brain-child of co-creators Kyle Raymond Fitzpatrick and Bobby Solomon, whose name you may recognize from his culture and design blog The Fox Is Black. 

The L.A.-based publication is a self-described silly, less-serious take on the gay magazine. As for what the title implies, it’s a nod to anyone who “appreciates, is, loves, identifies with, or wants to be a boy.” Before you get your head bent out of shape trying to dissect that–don’t. That’s antithetical to BOY CULTURE‘s vibe.

Fitzpatrick says, “It’s intended to be a fun, colorful take on maleness wrapped up with a bit of sexiness, a bit of aesthetics, and a lot of wit. We wanted to make a gay / LGBTQ magazine that was somewhat silly because so many publications in this genre are very, very serious. Hopefully this is a nice reprieve from the norm.”

He adds, “We made BOY CLUB as a reaction to having trouble finding ourselves in gay media. We kept finding ourselves looking at magazines for LGBTQ persons that we loved and just found them  too unapproachable and beautiful. We instead wanted to make something for the gay everyman, something that dudes can look at and see themselves in, something that they could interact with via a recipe or story that speaks to our commonality.”

Above all else, BOY CLUB is about having fun. Says Solomon, “Being gay is fun! And we wanted to reflect that. That’s been the thing people have latched onto most: it being such an upbeat little mag.”

The theme of the first issue is FRESH and features a range of pieces, from an interview with a gay house cleaner who looks like a go-go boy to a gay chef who explains how difficult it is to be out in the kitchen; from a recipe for Gay Ass Quiche (that’s literally what it’s called) to cactuses that look like penises.

The magazine will be published quarterly-ish and retails for $15. It’s available for purchase online and at select retailers. You can also find BOY CLUB on Instagram, Facebook, and Spotify.

The post Meet ‘Boy Club’, a Silly New Take on the Gay Magazine – PHOTOS appeared first on Towleroad.

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NC vs the Justice Department: Why Transgender Discrimination is Sex Discrimination

On Monday, Governor Pat McCrory of North Carolina and US Attorney General Loretta Lynch traded lawsuits over North Carolina’s anti-LGBT “bathroom” law. The law, commonly known as HB2, does a lot more than force transgender individuals to use public restrooms in accordance with their gender at birth. It also overturns all local anti-discrimination ordinances that protected individuals on the basis of sexual orientation or gender expression. Per the lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice, HB2 violates Title VII and Title IX of the Civil Rights Act, both of which prohibit discrimination “on the basis of sex” in workplaces and in education.

It is important for us to understand how the Justice Department makes the argument that barring transgender individuals from using the bathrooms that correspond to their gender identity violates a law that bans sex discrimination. For this discussion, I am going to leave to one side the incredibly rich (and important) social science discussion on the differences between “sex” and “gender”. The main reason for not engaging in this discussion is because the law refers only to “sex”.

When we are born, we are assigned a “sex” and it is written down on our birth certificates. That classification is based solely on the appearance of our genitalia. But that is not the only factor that goes into determining someone’s “sex.” There are other important determinants: chromosomes, internal organs, and gender identity. The term “gender identity” refers to an individual’s sense or feeling about whether he or she is male or female. So, individuals whose gender identity does not match the appearance of their reproductive organs, i.e., transgender individuals, have a particular problem at birth: the “sex” listed on their birth certificate is wrong.

When a transgender individual manifests a gender identity, he or she can try to change the sex on his or her birth certificate. But in many states, it’s incredibly difficult: it takes money, time, and sometimes, it even takes an operation and hormonal therapy. Not everyone can do it, but that doesn’t mean that their gender identity is any less worthy of respect.

Under HB2, a person whose gender identity matches his or her physical genitalia — for example, male sex organs/identifies as a man — is allowed to use a restroom in accordance with his or her gender identity — or, the Men’s Room. But HB2 discriminates against those whose gender identity does not match their sex organs. Transgender individuals are not allowed to use the restroom that accords with their gender identity.

Here’s where discrimination on the basis of “sex” comes in. Under HB2, a man whose gender identity is male can use a Men’s Room. However, a person with female genitalia whose gender identity is male cannot. As such, gender identity discrimination is discrimination on the basis of sex because it treats individuals of different sexes differently for no reason.

The Republican response to the DOJ rejects this view. Governor McCrory argues that gender identity is not protected by the Civil Rights Act’s prohibition on sex discrimination. He argues this in two ways. First, gender identity has never before been protected by Title VII or Title IX.

The correct response to that is: So what? The drafters of the Civil Rights Act may never have even knew or understood the phrase “gender identity” or the word “transgender.” That doesn’t mean that the law, which bans sex discrimination, doesn’t apply. Although transgender individuals certainly existed in 1964, when the Civil Right Act was first passed, what didn’t exist were a host of new understandings of sex, gender, and social life. A generally applicable law needs to apply to new questions. In this case, the application is pretty straight forward.

Second, Governor McCrory redefines the question. He argues that “transgender status” is not a protected class under the Civil Rights Act. The response to that is: That’s not the point. The Civil Rights Act prohibits, among other things, discrimination on the basis of “sex”. Transgender discrimination is sex discrimination. McCrory’s attempt at magician’s misdirection won’t fly.

The post NC vs the Justice Department: Why Transgender Discrimination is Sex Discrimination appeared first on Towleroad.

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Notorious U.S. Hate Group Brings Anti-LGBT Propaganda to Europe

HRC stands in solidarity with LGBT advocates and allies as anti-LGBT activists prepare to descend on Tbilisi, Georgia, for the 10th international gathering hosted by the World Congress of Families (WCF). Designated an anti-LGBT hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, WCF provides a platform for some of the most virulently anti-LGBT extremists from around the world.

The WCF X conference is taking place in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, from May 15-18, the same time LGBT Georgians’ celebrate the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia,and Biphobia. In 2013, the day was marred by anti-LGBT violence in the capital.

“The World Congress of Families focuses on bringing in the most notorious anti-LGBT activists from around the world, leaving terrible harm and discrimination in their wake,” said Ty Cobb, Director of HRC Global. “Try as they might to hide behind so-called ‘pro-family’ rhetoric, the World Congress of Families is a hate group that convenes thousands of extremists from around the globe to strategize about how to make the world a more dangerous place for LGBT people.”

WCF works closely with extremists spreading anti-LGBT rhetoric and promoting laws and policies that criminalize not only LGBT people, but also those who speak out to support them. HRC’s report on the group, Exposed: The World Congress of Families, underscores the reality that WCF and many of its affiliates are laser-focused on promoting policies and rhetoric that put LGBT people and their families at incredible risk.

The conference speakers include Theresa Okafor, a notorious exporter of hate who has compared LGBT people to the terrorist group Boko Haram, and Brian Brown, president and co-founder of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), a once-prominent anti-LGBT group. In 2011, Brown said, “When you knock over a core pillar of society like marriage, and then try to redefine Biblical views of marriage as bigotry, there will be consequences. Will one of the consequences be a serious push to normalize pedophilia?”

“WCF has honored a Nigerian activist who claims LGBT advocates conspire with terrorists with a “Woman of the Year” award, and lauded Vladimir Putin’s ‘morality,’”Cobb said. “The work of WCF supports positions and policies that harm LGBT people around the world. Their advocacy abroad incites hatred against LGBT people from Russia to Nigeria and beyond.”

In October 2015 HRC worked with with LGBT advocates and allies in Salt Lake City as 2,500 anti-LGBT activists descended on the Beehive State. As part of its larger effort to call out WCF and its allies for their nefarious activities, 14,000 HRC members signed a two-pageadvertisement in Sunday’s Salt Lake Tribune. HRC also sponsored the Inclusive Families Conference in Salt Lake City in advance of the conference, which brought together local leaders, citizens, and advocates to promote a positive image of LGBT people and their families.

In 2013, WCF forcefully advocated for the draconian anti-LGBT Russian “anti-propaganda law,” met with the law’s author in the Russian Duma, and released a public letter supporting the measure. As a HRC report documented last year, harassment, investigations, arrests, and acts of violence against LGBT Russians have occurred in the wake of the law. When a Mother Jones reporter asked WCF Managing Director Larry Jacobs if the organization had contributed to the Russian crackdown on its LGBT citizens, Jacobs said, “Yes, I think that is accurate.” Additionally, WCF may be in violation of U.S. sanctions against Russia because of its dealings with two Russian officials who appear on the Treasury Department’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.

Active across five continents, WCF has organized large international “pro-family” conventions that bring together a wide range of vehemently anti-LGBT activists. WCF’s activities range from holding conferences in Nigeria focused on denying rights to LGBT people, to working to silence the Russian LGBT community.

WCF affiliate Scott Lively, who may also be attending the conference, has traveled repeatedly to Uganda, claiming that LGBT people are responsible for the Holocaust, the Rwandan genocide and the spread of HIV and AIDS. Some Ugandan officials credit Lively with the idea of introducing new legislation to further criminalize homosexuality in the country, and prominent Ugandan LGBT activists say that the bill “is essentially his creation.”

www.hrc.org/blog/notorious-u.s.-hate-group-brings-anti-lgbt-propaganda-to-europe?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

HRC Responds to Gov. McCrory’s Resistance to Dept. of Education’s Guidance on Transgender Students

Today, HRC released the following statement in response to Governor Pat McCrory’s resistance to newly issued Department of Education guidance for school districts ensuring transgender students will be treated with dignity in public and federally funded schools, including by having appropriate access to facilities consistent with their gender identity.

“Every student deserves a chance to be safe and to thrive in school, and that’s what the Department of Education’s guidance is all about,” said HRC Communications Director Jay Brown. “Governor McCrory has shamefully decided to play politics with the lives of transgender students – and is also demonstrating his lack of knowledge about the law. These guidelines, which teachers and administrators were requesting, are supported by case law and have been enforced now for years. In fact, the Fourth Circuit recently ruled in favor of a transgender student suing his school for exactly the type of discrimination that is described in this guidance. Governor McCrory – and any governor who expresses similar resistance to complying with federal civil rights law – risks not only losing billions in federal funding but also risks the safety of students.”

North Carolina’s recently-passed anti-LGBT law, known as HB2, in part prohibits public school students from using restrooms and other school facilities consistent with their gender identity, and it points to the increasing urgency for the administration’s guidance on access to public facilities. The law also overturns municipal protections for LGBT people at the local level, bars transgender people from using restrooms consistent with their gender identity in all publicly-owned property, and guts the ability of people who have been discriminated against – including on the basis of race, religion, and sex – to sue in state court.

Today’s guidance will be helpful for administrators who have asked for more specificity about how to comply with Title IX in regard to transgender students, and it is the next step in the pattern of implementation and enforcement that has been followed by the Departments of Education and Justice over the last several years, including in multiple enforcement actions and in federal court.  In North Carolina, this guidance will be particularly useful for school districts who are seeking to comply with federal civil rights laws despite the discriminatory mandate imposed upon them by HB2.

For more information about how HB2 violates Title IX, please refer to this letter that HRC released during the special session in which HB2 was considered. If Governor McCrory is surprised at the state of federal law regarding transgender children, that is because he and the General Assembly failed to do their due diligence before ramming HB2 through the legislature and signing it into law over the course of one day.

A survey by the HRC Foundation found that three-quarters of transgender students feel unsafe in school settings. A report by the Williams Institute found that half of transgender adults who were bullied in school had attempted suicide. These startling numbers can only be expected to rise if the North Carolina law, and other similar bills proposed in other states, continue to target these young people.

HRC Foundation’s Welcoming Schools program also works extensively with teachers and administrators to support transgender and gender-expansive students, create LGBTQ-inclusive schools, prevent bias-based bullying and gender stereotyping, and embrace family diversity. In 2015, the HRC Foundation, with the ACLU, Gender Spectrum, NCLR and the NEA, released Schools In Transition: A Guide for Supporting Transgender Students in K-12, which serves as the premiere best practices guide for schools nationwide.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-responds-to-gov.-mccrorys-resistance-to-ed.-department-guidance-on-tran?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Rep. Blasts 'Cisgender Bigots' of North Carolina

In a sweeping takedown of bathroom bills, Rep. Alan Grayson has reportedly become the first to say the word ‘cisgender’ in the U.S. House of Representatives.

www.advocate.com/transgender/2016/5/13/rep-blasts-cisgender-bigots-north-carolina