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Daily Archives: May 19, 2016
Would All LGBTQ Americans Please Stand Up?
Would All LGBTQ Americans Please Stand Up?
How many Americans are gay? That’s the question posed by a new piece in Time Magazine about the efforts of a coalition of experts from 21 federal agencies to figure out how to even start collecting data to help answer that question.
“After centuries in the shadows, many experts believe that we need a full accounting of the nation’s LGBT population and how they live for legal, economic and health reasons,” writes reporter Katy Steinmetz.
The old 1-in-10 rule popularized in the ’70s and based on Alfred Kinsey’s estimate that 10% of American males were homosexual has been replaced by more accurate number suggesting 5% of the U.S. population actually identifies as LGBT, Steinmetz reports. Of course, that doesn’t factor in people who may be closeted or who engage in homosexual behavior but don’t identify as LGBT. Meanwhile, most Americans seem to think LGBT people make up roughly 25% of the population for some reason.
But according to Steinmetz and the officials she spoke with, figuring out how many LGBT people live in the U.S. isn’t as simple as adding a sexual orientation checkbox to census forms. There are logistical factors such as the language different people in different age groups use to identify and the vagaries of a generation that is increasingly more interested in sexual and gender fluidity than traditional binary notions of identity.
All of which is why, Steinmetz says, the U.S. census won’t be asking about sexual orientation anytime soon, despite increased interest.
feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/VRojQeulz8c/lgbtq-americans-please-stand-20160519
Amid Shouts Of ‘Shame,’ House GOP Defeats Gay Rights Measure
Amid Shouts Of ‘Shame,’ House GOP Defeats Gay Rights Measure
Chaos Erupts in Congress As Republicans Block Measure That Would Protect LGBT Workers – WATCH
Chaos Erupts in Congress As Republicans Block Measure That Would Protect LGBT Workers – WATCH
In a chaotic floor vote in the U.S. House of Representatives, an amendment to a defense authorization bill that would have blocked funding from anti-LGBT government contractors was rejected after a last minute rally from Republicans.
The amendment was put forth by openly gay Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney. He initially had the votes to pass the measure until Republicans made a last ditch effort to block it, which they did narrowly by one vote.
Maloney’s amendment would have voided a provision in the defense authorization bill passed Wednesday by Republicans which provides broad “religious freedom” exemptions for religious and religiously affiliated organizations that receive federal contracts. Those exemptions can be used to discriminate against LGBT people.
Maloney’s amendment also would have blocked funding from going to any company that would not comply with President Obama’s executive order banning discrimination among federal contractors against LGBT workers.
GOP leaders held the vote open as they pressured members to change sides. Infuriating Democrats, they let lawmakers switch their votes without coming to the House floor.
“Shame! Shame! Shame!” Democrats chanted as they watched the vote tally go from passage of Maloney’s amendment to narrow failure.
Twenty-nine Republicans voted for Maloney’s amendment to a spending bill for the Department of Veterans Affairs and military construction projects, along with all Democrats in the final roll call.
“This is one of the ugliest episodes I’ve experienced in my three-plus years as a member of this House,” Maloney, who is openly gay, said while offering his amendment.
Here’s the before and after votes on striking anti-LGBT language from NDAA. They had it til some GOPers flipped. pic.twitter.com/yokSeFsyOO
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) May 19, 2016
House Democrats took to Twitter following the defeat to express furor over Republican intransigence against LGBT rights.
.@HouseGOP should be ashamed of its cowardly actions preventing a fair vote to protect #LGBT Americans from discrimination. #SHAME
— Rep. Patrick Murphy (@RepMurphyFL) May 19, 2016
#TBT to when @RepSeanMaloney‘s amdt had the votes, until @HouseGOP abused regular order to ensure discrimination. t.co/krz86D4gQe
— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) May 19, 2016
Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan denied knowing whether his team pressured House Republicans to switch their votes. “I don’t know the answer. I don’t even know,” Ryan said. He then defended the provision that Maloney was trying to gut: “This is federalism; the states should do this. The federal government shouldn’t stick its nose in its business.”
When Maloney confronted Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) aout the vote reversals, McCarthy reportedly told Maloney, “Get back on your own side of the aisle.” To which Maloney responded, “What side of the aisle am I supposed to stand on to support equality?”
Watch video of House Democrats chanting “Shame!” at House Republicans.
House Democrats shout “shame” at Republican colleagues after a vote on an LGBT amendment t.co/JvMdaKSypk
— POLITICO (@politico) May 19, 2016
Developing…
The post Chaos Erupts in Congress As Republicans Block Measure That Would Protect LGBT Workers – WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.
Security Guard Arrested For Assaulting Transgender Woman in Bathroom Faces Hate Crime Charges – VIDEO
Security Guard Arrested For Assaulting Transgender Woman in Bathroom Faces Hate Crime Charges – VIDEO
A security guard at a Washington, D.C. grocery store was arrested after assaulting and ejecting a transgender woman from the store’s women’s bathroom. Police documents list the incident as a suspected hate crime.
Ebony Belcher, 32, says she was using the restroom at a Giant supermarket in Northeast D.C. when a female security guard entered the bathroom and forcibly removed her.
“She opened the door and came in and started calling me derogatory names,” Belcher said.
She said the officer put her hand on her shoulder and arm, grabbed her and pushed her out of the store.
Belcher said the guard told her, “You guys cannot keep coming in here and using our women’s restroom. They did not pass the law yet.”
She said she called police and reported the incident after she left the store. According to a police report, officers arrested the guard at the Giant after the confrontation.
Belcher said that the event was “deeply humiliating” for her.
Speaking with KATV7, she added, “I’m hurt by this. It’s terrible… I’m distraught. People should not be discriminated based on their gender identity.” She also told KATV that the security guard “had no reason to put her hands on me.”
“I’m hurt by this,” says Ebony Belcher, transgender woman who claims she was assaulted by security guard at DC Giant for using ladies room.
— Jay Korff (@ABC7Jay) May 19, 2016
Police: security guard charged after confronting transgender woman for trying to use women’s bathroom at DC Giant. pic.twitter.com/qBBeZennAs
— Jay Korff (@ABC7Jay) May 19, 2016
Giant responded to the incident with this statement:
“As this matter involves a third party that provides security services for Giant and there’s an ongoing criminal investigation, all inquiries related to the incident at the H Street Giant should be directed to the local police for a comment at this time.”
Right now, the security guard is only charged with simple assault, though investigations into whether it was a hate crime are reportedly ongoing.
Watch a news report from NBC News 4, below.
The post Security Guard Arrested For Assaulting Transgender Woman in Bathroom Faces Hate Crime Charges – VIDEO appeared first on Towleroad.
Watch Republicans Scramble To Make Sure They Vote Against LGBT Equality
Watch Republicans Scramble To Make Sure They Vote Against LGBT Equality
A measure protecting LGBT people from discrimination failed by a single vote.
The post Watch Republicans Scramble To Make Sure They Vote Against LGBT Equality appeared first on ThinkProgress.
thinkprogress.org/politics/2016/05/19/3779986/house-republicans-include-lgbt-discrimination-in-ndaa/
73 Republican Congressmen Challenge Obama's Trans Bathroom Policy
73 Republican Congressmen Challenge Obama's Trans Bathroom Policy
Rep. Bill Flores called the administration’s support of trans students “blatant executive overreach.”
House Passes Defense Bill Allowing Discrimination Against LGBT Workers
House Passes Defense Bill Allowing Discrimination Against LGBT Workers
House Republican Steve Russell amended a federal defense spending bill to include provisons for discrimination against LGBT workers on religious grounds.
10 Times Zac Efron Made Our Heart Throb
10 Times Zac Efron Made Our Heart Throb
It has been conclusively proven by listicles and compilation videos and by no less an authority than Seth Rogen himself that Zac Efron is one of the sexiest mofos alive. It has even been suggested that the chiseled star of Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (in theaters Friday, May 20) was grown in a lab by a renegade team of gay geneticists.
Obviously all of us are jealous of his cuddly relationship with We Are Your Friends director and certified silver fox Max Joseph. And we would all kill to be the lady who sprays the tan onto those taut muscles every damn day—hell, we’d kill to be the lucky chemicals in that can of spray tan!
But, if you need even further proof of Efron’s heartthrob cred, we’ve compiled the following 10 instances of his utter sexability.
1. His first-ever Details Magazine cover
Remember way back in 2008 when Zac Efron was all fresh-faced and floppy-haired?
2. His bromance with Dave Franco
While his Neighbors co-star is engaged to his boyfriend (played by fab gay comic John Early) in the sequel, Efron and Franco’s real life chemistry has fueled our slash fic fantasies for years!
3. His award-winning shirtlessness
When Efron was nominated for the MTV Movie Award for “Best Shirtless Performance” for his role in 2012’s That Awkward Moment, he vowed to accept the award bare chested—and he made good on that promise!
4. He loves us just as much as we love him
It may have taken until 2012 for him to do his first-ever gay media interview, but as Efron told The Advocate while promoting The Paperboy, he’s always appreciated his gay fans.
5. Gay directors know exactly how to cast him
That time out director Lee Daniels cast Efron in The Paperboy, and filmed this scene of him dancing with Nichole Kidman in his undies.
6. Sweet Jesus
This!
7. Zac and that erectile dysfunction story
Then there was this charming story Efron told about “a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend” taking Viagra—but probably it was actually really about him.
8. He’s a skilled woodworker
He could build you a skateboard for your birthday. And he’d do it shirtless, obviously.
9. Whoa
We honestly have no idea what the actual context for this scene is, but American culture will be forever indebted to Dirty Grandpa for giving us Zac Efron doing the…”Macarena” in some sort of bee thong.
10. Those muscles
And now Neighbors 2 is upping the ante by having Efron go full-on Magic Mike on the rowdy sisters of Kappa Kappa Whatever.
Neighbors 2 in theaters, Friday, May 20
feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/L_Kvpm2hpU0/10-times-zac-efron-made-heart-throb-20160519
Randy Rainbow to Donald Trump: ‘Are You Made of Cheese?’ – WATCH
Randy Rainbow to Donald Trump: ‘Are You Made of Cheese?’ – WATCH
Randy Rainbow scored an exclusive one-on-one interview with presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump. It was a no-holds-barred affair, including some tough questions that Trump has repeatedly dodged. For example, “Are you made of cheese?” And, “Is Melania a robot?”
RELATED: Randy Rainbow Says ‘Byee’ to GOP Dropouts Ted Cruz and John Kasich – WATCH
Watch what happens when Randy takes The Donald to task, below.
The post Randy Rainbow to Donald Trump: ‘Are You Made of Cheese?’ – WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.
