Marriage and Beyond: 26 Relationship Possibilities for Gay Men

www.advocate.com/love-and-sex/2016/5/16/marriage-and-beyond-26-relationship-possibilities-gay-men

What To Watch On TV This Week: Goodbye ‘Faking It’

Check out our weekly guide to TV this week, and make sure you’re catching the big premieres, crucial episodes and the stuff you won’t admit you watch when no one’s looking.

— Pour one out for Faking It on MTV. The show wraps with a series finale Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. Eastern. The series explored sexuality in a variety ways, but we’ll miss it most for Michael Willett, whom we fell in love with in United States of Tara. Faking It’s creator Carter Covington says he’ll tweet what would have come next on the show following the finale.

— Fox’s hit Empire brings its soapy second season to a dramatic close Wednesday at 9p.m. Eastern. Executive producer Sanaa Hamri promised a “twisted, delicious and thrilling” shock in the finale, so anything’s possible.

— We’re still a sucker for Shonda Rhimes, even 12 seasons in on Grey’s Anatomy. The Callie (Sara Ramirez) and Arizona (Jessica Capshaw) custody battle rages on, while it’s time for another Shepherd to get married on the season finale Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern on ABC. If there’s one thing we’ve learned by now, it’s that weddings on this show rarely go off without a hitch.

— Gay icon Sir Elton John guest stars on Nashville Wednesday at 10 p.m. Eastern on ABC, but he’s not the only one. The ladies of The View, including Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Raven Symoné and Paula Faris also make appearances.

— Out Aussie rocker Courtney Barnett is the musical guest on this week’s Saturday Night Live at 11:30 p.m. Eastern on NBC. Check out our favorite Barnett track “Elevator Operator,” above. SNL-alum Fred Armisen returns to his old stomping ground as host.

What are you watching this week on TV?

The post What To Watch On TV This Week: Goodbye ‘Faking It’ appeared first on Towleroad.

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Trans Singer Burns Birth Certificate at North Carolina Concert

Against Me!’s Laura Jane Grace staged a fiery protest against anti-LGBT legislation.

www.advocate.com/transgender/2016/5/16/trans-singer-burns-birth-certificate-north-carolina-concert

PHOTOS: How Did We Miss New England Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski’s Perfect Tight End?

It was a good weekend — the spring air is warming up, Donald Trump made questionable choices and Eurovision invaded the world. Everything you’d expect from this time of year.

But somehow we went all weekend having missed a crucial story. For that, we sincerely apologize.

Because as good as your weekend was, it could have been that much better with a glimpse at New England Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski’s GQ spread.

And when we say spread…

Head here for the mildly NSFW rear-view perfection. And have a great week.

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/qi7_WIrIGWQ/photos-miss-new-england-patriots-rob-gronkowskis-perfect-tight-end-20160516

Rocky Horror Picture Show, ‘This Is Us’, Rome Metro, SCOTUS, Barbra, Male Model Monday: NEWS

TELEVISION. Fox unveils teaser for Rocky Horror Picture Show remake.

SKIN. Milo Ventimiglia strips down in new trailer for his NBC series This Is Us, also starring Mandy Moore.

KEEPING UP WITH MIMI. Mariah Carey is getting a reality show all about her ‘world.’

POTUS. President Obama talks about why he has been fighting for transgender rights: “We’re talking about kids. Anybody who has been in school, in high school, who has been a parent should realize that kids who are sometimes in the minority, kids who have a different sexual orientation or are transgender are subject to a lot of bullying, potentially. They’re vulnerable.”

UK. City of Manchester to swear in first openly gay Lord Mayor: “Councillor Carl Austin-Behan will become the first ever openly gay person to hold the historic title when he is sworn in on Wednesday. The 44-year-old – a former Mr Gay UK – felt it was time for someone who represents Manchester’s celebrated lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community to finally don the ceremonial robes. And it is all the more meaningful after a long battle to stop his sexuality blocking his ambitions. Just over 20 years ago he was kicked out of the Royal Air Force for being gay at a time when it was still illegal.”

ANCIENT ROME. Construction of a new metro line in the eternal city runs into Roman barracks and burial ground: “It’s exceptional, not only for its good state of conservation but because it is part of a neighbourhood which already included four barracks.”

MUSIC. Barbra Streisand announces new 9 city tour: “Streisand will perform her hits from each decade plus songs from her new album, ‘ENCORE: Movie Partners Sing Broadway,’ celebrating a career of unparalleled creative achievement. Every ticket purchased online includes a CD of Streisand’s new album, which will be released later this year.”

SCOTUS. The Supreme Court won’t review 4th Circuit ruling that has huge implications for transgender rights: “The justices declined to take up a student debt-collection case that asked the court to overrule a 1997 precedent, Auer v. Robbins, that said the judicial branch should defer to a federal agency’s interpretation of its own regulations. That case is the main one a 4th Circuit Court of Appeals panel relied on when it upheld the right of a transgender boy to use the boys’ bathrooms at a Virginia high school. There is no federal regulation specifically on the point, but the Education Department has issued guidance indicating that such treatment is required by the sex-discrimination prohibition in Title IX on schools receiving federal funds.”

ANIMALS. Rare Sumatran rhino born in captivity at a sanctuary in Indonesia.

WATCH: Critically endangered Sumatran rhino born at sanctuary in Indonesia; fewer than 100 are left in the world.t.co/QQMVSeA52k

— NBC Nightly News (@NBCNightlyNews) May 16, 2016

CUBA. The island nation saw its largest annual LGBT pride parade over the weekend.

MALE MODEL MONDAY. Meet Scott Neslage. 

The post Rocky Horror Picture Show, ‘This Is Us’, Rome Metro, SCOTUS, Barbra, Male Model Monday: NEWS appeared first on Towleroad.

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European Union Criticizes Anti-LGBT Laws in North Carolina, Tennessee and Mississippi

In a statement released last week, the European Union (EU) blasted anti-LGBT laws in North Carolina, Tennessee and Mississippi.

The statement reads:

“The recently adopted laws including in the states of Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee, which discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons in the United States contravene the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which the US is a State party, and which states that the law shall prohibit any discrimination and guarantee to all persons equal and effective protection.

As a consequence, cultural, traditional or religious values cannot be invoked to justify any form of discrimination, including discrimination against LGBTI persons. These laws should be reconsidered as soon as possible.

The European Union reaffirms its commitment to the equality and dignity of all human beings irrespective of their sexual orientation and gender identity. We will continue to work to end all forms of discrimination and to counter attempts to embed or enhance discrimination wherever it occurs around the world.”

On March 23, North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory signed into law HB2 – an outrageous and unprecedented anti-LGBT law that eliminated existing municipal non-discrimination protections for LGBT people and living wage ordinances and prevents such protections from being passed by cities in the future. The legislation also forces transgender students in public schools to use restrooms and other facilities inconsistent with their gender identity, putting $4.5 billion in federal education funding alone at risk, and compelling the same type of discrimination against transgender people to take place in publicly-owned buildings, including in public universities, convention centers, and airports. Further, it gutted the existing ability of people who have been discriminated against – including on the basis of race, religion, and sex – to sue in state court, undermining critical discrimination protections for all.

On April 5, 2016, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant signed into law H.B. 1523, “The Religious Liberty Accommodations Act.” More than 75 major national corporations and businesses have spoken out against the horrific measure, that would allow individuals, religious organizations and private associations to use religion to discriminate against LGBT Mississippians in some of the most important aspects of their lives, including at work, at schools, and in their communities.

On April 28, Gov. Bill Haslam signed into law a mean-spirited anti-LGBT bill. The “Counseling Discrimination Bill,” SB 1556, allows licensed counselors in private practice to use personal or religious beliefs as an excuse to terminate care or refer away LGBT clients, as long as they refer the client to another counselor.

The EU is not the only international body speaking out against these anti-LGBT laws. Last month, the United Kingdom’s Foreign Office warned its LGBT citizens of the risks of traveling to North Carolina and Mississippi.

www.hrc.org/blog/european-union-criticizes-anti-lgbt-laws-in-north-carolina-tennessee-and-mi?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed