The ‘Gay of Thrones’ Recap of S6xE5 Is Here: ‘The Hoe Door’ – WATCH

SPOILERS AHEAD.

The hits keep on coming this season on Game of Thrones. Sunday night’s episode left many fans in tears (not gonna name names) and here to recap it all is your favorite GOT devotee, Jonathan van Ness.

And Jonathan’s guest Jennie Pierson was on hand to help him break down all that went down in the 7 kingdoms this week (and also in Seattle, Coachella, and a few more places).

First, it’s worth pointing out that Jennie has an important point to make about the final sequence being a rip-off of Todo’s song “Africa” (it will totally make sense.

And also, “Poor baby Hodor. It’s not his name, girl. It’s his destiny!”

Find out what Sansa Fierce, Earl Grey, Klingon Tila Tequila, Lena Dunham, Drunk Uncle Wolverine, Wildling Louis C.K., Tilda, Christina Aguilera, and the rest of the gang got up to this week, below.

(Briefly work-unfriendly).

For more Gay of Thrones recaps, click HERE.

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San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus Wants Padres to Reinstate DJ Fired Over Anthem Incident

The San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus released a statement earlier today thanking the Padres for responding to the controversy which took place at Petco Park over the weekend when their voices were replaced by that of a female anthem singer and then taunted by fans as they were led off the field.

RELATED: Fired Padres DJ Apologizes for Gay Men’s Chorus Flub, Explains What Happened: LISTEN

This morning we posted DJ Artform’s explanation of the incident and his apology, which the Chorus has accepted.

They also asked the Padres to reinstate him:

As a community outreach organization dedicated to bringing positive change to the world through music, we applaud the San Diego Padres organization and its chief executive Mike Dee for its ongoing efforts to make something good come out of unfortunate recent events. We have met with Mr. Dee and he has agreed to meet with and work closely with the LGBT community to bring our communities together with constructive, positive change.

We also would like to publicly accept the sincere apology of DJ ARTFORM and recognize his support for the LGBT community and equality for all people. We do not wish to see him lose his job with the San Diego Padres and kindly ask the Padres to reinstate him. Everyone deserves a second chance.

We have been overwhelmed by the positive support from people around the world and would like to thank Mayor Kevin Faulconer, City Councilman Todd Gloria and many other community leaders for helpings us turn this into something positive for the City of San Diego.

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How A Conservative Law Firm Convinced A School System To Gamble On An Anti-Transgender Policy

The Alliance Defending Freedom convinced a school to defy the federal government because they’d provide a “free” legal defense.

The post How A Conservative Law Firm Convinced A School System To Gamble On An Anti-Transgender Policy appeared first on ThinkProgress.

thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2016/05/24/3781259/adf-virginia-transgender-policy/

HRC President Chad Griffin Thanks Charlotte City Council for Defending City’s Ordinance

Post submitted by Hope Jackson, Southern Regional Field Organizer

Yesterday, HRC President Chad Griffin joined our partners at the TurnOUT! North Carolina (NC) project, along with numerous local Charlotte leaders, to thank Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts and the Charlotte City Council for not rescinding the city’s non-discrimination ordinance.

In March, 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; forced transgender students in public schools to use restrooms and other facilities inconsistent with their gender identity, putting 4.5 billion dollars in federal education funding alone at risk; and compelled 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. In recent weeks, it had become clear that Charlotte City Council members were feeling intense pressure from both leaders in Raleigh and the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce to rescind the LGBT non-discrimination ordinance, which passed earlier this year in a 7-4 vote.

TurnOUT! NC, a coalition of HRC, Equality North Carolina, the ACLU and the Campaign for Southern Equality, gathered earlier during the day with over 40 supporters for the “Transgender North Carolinians Families and Friends Against HB 2” press conference. Together, these advocates urged the city council to stand strong and not rescind the vital ordinance.

Following the press conference, over a dozen TurnOUT! NC field organizers and local supporters of the ordinance demonstrated outside of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce. They called on the Chamber to stop bullying the city council and to stand up and fight against discrimination and against HB 2.

“We had several conversations over the weekend,” Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts said at a city council meeting last night, “We heard from a lot of people, we got a lot of input and feedback and we concluded that a discussion of HB 2 by the city council would not be helpful in advancing a solution to the ongoing challenges.”

HRC’s President Chad Griffin was present at the evening meeting and thanked the council for their leadership and resolve.

“Thank you for continuing to stand up and stand your ground today by defending the equal rights and equal dignity of all LGBT people…for that leadership, we say thank you,” he said.

Mara Keisling, Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, was also present in the Charlotte City Council Chambers.

“I want to thank you for the wonderful work you did in February on the non-discrimination ordinance,” she said. “Right now transgender people are under attack in North Carolina and around the country…thank you so much for listening and being a hope for them. Thank you so much for being strong.”

Openly lesbian Councilwoman LaWana Mayfield, a champion for Charlotte’s ordinance, took the opportunity to speak to legislative leaders in Raleigh directly.

“Do your job,” she said. “Fix the mess that you made instead of looking to Charlotte, which was expanding our ordinance to protect our people.”

TurnOUT! NC is working to mobilize thousands of pro-equality North Carolinians to speak out for full repeal of HB2.  If you live in North Carolina and want to join the efforts to repeal HB2, RSVP for upcoming phone banks and volunteer opportunities. For more information about our work in North Carolina, contact HRC Associate Regional Field Director Ryan Rowe at [email protected].

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-president-chad-griffin-thanks-charlotte-city-council-for-defending-city?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Hateful Anti-Transgender Flyer Distributed by KKK in Alabama Neighborhood

Today, HRC Alabama responded to reports of disturbing anti-transgender flyers being circulated in a Dothan, Ala., neighborhood. They appear to have been distributed by the Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan as a recruiting tool.

The Dothan Police Department notified the FBI, as the flyer’s message could promote hate crimes against the transgender community.

“This crude and vile message from a notorious hate group does not represent Alabama values,” said HRC Alabama State Manager Eva Walton Kendrick. “Transgender people continue to be one of our most vulnerable and marginalized groups, and want nothing more than to live without fear and discrimination. Elected officials promoting anti-LGBT legislation need to take note of how their actions feed extremists, further compromising the safety of transgender people they were elected to serve and protect.”

Kendrick continued, “We urge all Alabamians to stand up and make clear that these messages of hatred have no place in our society. We are so much stronger when we work together to make sure that Alabama is a state that welcomes everyone.”

This year, an unprecedented 44 anti-transgender bills have been introduced in 17 states. North Carolina has the terrible distinction of becoming the first state in the country to enact a law attacking transgender students; similar proposals were rejected across the country this year, including one in Oxford, Ala., that was quickly rescinded after national outcry. Despite claims to the contrary by anti-LGBT activists who have preyed on misinformation and ignorance, extending equal protections to transgender community is not a threat to public safety. This fear-mongering puts transgender people at an increased risk of violence by fostering hate and misunderstanding.

To learn more about HRC’s work on transgender equality visit hrc.org/transgender.

In 2014, HRC launched Project One America, an initiative geared towards advancing social, institutional and legal equality in Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas. HRC Alabama continues to work to advance equality for LGBT Alabamians who have no statewide protections in housing, workplace, or public accommodations; and legal state recognition for their relationships and families. Through HRC Alabama, we are working toward a future of fairness every day—changing hearts, minds and laws toward achieving full equality.

www.hrc.org/blog/disturbin-anti-transgender-flyers-distributed-by-kkk-in-alabama?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Leave Madonna Alone! Five Other Times Well-Intentioned Gay “Divas” Have Butchered Live Performances

Madonna got a ton of crap this week for her tribute to Prince during Sunday night’s Billboard Music Awards. The Queen of Pop belted out the late singer’s song “Nothing Compares 2 U” before being joined onstage by Stevie Wonder for a joint rendition of “Purple Rain.” But many Prince fans didn’t appreciate the musical homage. And some were downright offended.

Related: Internet Responds To Madonna’s Butchering Of Prince’s Greatest Hits

We’ll be honest and say it wasn’t Madonna’s best performance. But it also wasn’t her worst. And plenty of other singers have had “off” nights during their careers. Nobody can be perfect all the time.

Scroll down for five other times well-intentioned gay “divas” have struggled with hitting those high notes…

Britney Spears

Perhaps what makes this particular performance so tragic isn’t Britney’s actual voice but how hard she is trying.

Mariah Carey

Each December, Mariah Carey puts on a new red dress and snowflake earrings and makes an appearance on national television to sing her perennial hit “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” In 2014, someone pulled a nasty holiday prank and posted the isolated vocals of her performance during the Rockefeller tree lighting. The result was anything but bright.

Jennifer Lopez

OK, nobody really believes Jenny from the Block has any technical singing ability, but just in case there was any lingering confusion…

Beyoncé

This wasn’t so much of a vocal fail as it was a special effects fail. While belting out her song “Halo,” Beyoncé accidentally got her hair caught in a fan. Amazingly, she managed to keep singing. And she barely missed a note. Well done, Bey.

Christina Aguilera

Who can possibly forget the time Christina Aguilera forget the lyrics to the National Anthem whilst screaming the song before millions of people at the 2011 Super Bowl?

BONUS: Katie Holmes

OK, this one is a bonus because she’s not actually a singer… which is precisely the writers of Dawson’s Creek never should have written that scene where she performs a rendition of “On My Own” from Les Miserables during a beauty pageant. Come on, guys!

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Spanish Police Help Neo-Nazis Banish Kissing Gay Couple

A gay Spanish couple tried to single-handedly take on a crowd of neo-nazis this weekend, and things didn’t exactly go well for them — although given history as a precedent, it certainly could have gone worse.

Their names are David Fernandez and Gregor Eistert, and they never intended to take a stand against fascism. They were just on a date in Malasana, a trendy little neighborhood, when an anti-immigrant stormed past.

At that point, David and Gregor decided to make out. And sure, what could be more romantic than a crowd of dangerous-looking men screaming about keeping out foreigners and brandishing photos of Franco?

As one might expect, the neo-nazis got a little perturbed when they spotted two gay men kissing. Eventually a policeman wandered over to tell them “that’s enough” and made the two men leave.

So there you have it! Love wins! Except it doesn’t, since the gay couple were the ones forced to leave and the neo-nazis were allowed to continue on their way.

Then again, what if they’d been allowed to keep kissing and the crowd grew violent? Obviously the nazis are the bad guys here — it isn’t even necessary to clarify that point — but were David and Gregor ready to go to the hospital (or worse) for the sake of a two-man kiss-in? Sometimes you have to pick you battles, and one little make-out session was probably never going to be powerful enough to force the dissolution of a racist rally.

Next time, organize an orgy!

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What To Watch On TV This Week: Finales for ‘Real O’Neals’ and ‘Nashville’

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.

— It’s prom time TV Tuesday night when The Real O’Neals wraps its first season Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on ABC. The O’Neal kids are getting ready for an unforgettable night, starting with planning the perfect prom-posals.

— Our favorite sexually-fluid model/dancer/hunk Nyle DiMarco is still in the running for the disco ball trophy on Dancing With the Stars. See if he’ll be able to claim another reality-TV championship Tuesday at 9 p.m. Eastern on ABC.

— ABC’s country-music drama Nashville says happy trails with a series finale. What will happen at the series’ curtain call for Rayna (the brilliant Connie Britton), Juliette (Hayden Panettiere) and the gay country singer Will (Chris Carmack)? Find out Wednesday at 10 p.m. Eastern.

— R-E-S-P-E-C-T for the sharp, young minds competing at the 2016 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Catch the finals Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

— It’s time for Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer) to make her walk of shame on Game of Thrones Sunday at 9 p.m. on HBO. The Sparrows might be in for a rude awakening when the Tyrell army swoops in to save the queen the humiliation.

What are you watching on TV this week?

The post What To Watch On TV This Week: Finales for ‘Real O’Neals’ and ‘Nashville’ appeared first on Towleroad.

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Adam Lambert Explains Why It Got Better For Him – WATCH

Adam Lambert talks about his experience growing up gay, coming out to his family, and learning to love who he is in a new video in which he explains how life ‘got better’ for him after coming out.

Originally founded by Dan Savage and husband Terry Miller in 2010 in response to a spate of LGBT youth suicides, the “It Gets Better” Project was intended to prevent suicide and provide comfort and solace to young people struggling to understand their sexual identity

Lambert reveals that for him, it was around puberty when “everything got kind of strange,” and he quickly realized he was different from most other boys his own age. That feeling of being different and not seeing any visible out gay men who could serve as role models left Lambert isolated. “It makes you feel like an outsider, for sure,” he says. “I kind of hid. I hid from being my true self. Because I knew I was going to be a target if I did that.”

As he moved into high school and started finding a community in choir and theatre, Lambert also began to see positive representations of LGBT people in media, namely Pedro on The Real World and the sitcom Will & Grace.

Of coming out, Lamberty says it was his mother who outed him. And after coming out to both his parents, he had a sense of relief. “It’s so funny because in my head as a teenager it seemed like such a big deal,” Lambert recalls. “When it all finally happened, it was kind of like, ‘That was easy.’”

As Lambert began pursuing a career in entertainment in Los Angeles, however, he still found that people were not willing to accept him. When he appeared on American Idol, rumors began to swirl about his sexuality and pictures of him kissing boys also emerged. When asked about it on the red carpet of the Idol premiere, Lambert said, “That’s me and I have nothing to hide.”

Lambert believes that owning his identity and bucking what others consider “normal” has been a huge part of his success. He hopes that LGBT youths currently struggling with their identity will eschew self-consciousness in favor of self-confidence.

“For the one kid maybe who’s searching for some sort of answer or some sort of confidence, [who’s fighting] fear of, ‘What are they gonna say? What are they gonna think?’ You gotta let that go. That’s the thing that’s in your way.”

Watch, below.

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