Summer 2016: What You’re Doing to Make This the Sexiest Season Ever

Take your shirts off, put your Havaianas on and turn the music up! The year’s sexiest season is about to begin.

Can you believe it’s finally happening again? After what seemed like an impossibly long wait, along comes another Memorial Day in all of its glory to remind us why June, July and August are the hottest months in the gay calendar — in more ways than one.

This weekend marked the unofficial kickoff to the summer, which is the official season for Pride celebrations, frozen margaritas, tea dances, tanned bodies and summer loves. Just to name a few of our favorite things.

We surveyed a few of you to see how you plan on spending the warmer months, and what you think we should all do to make the summer of 2016 the best ever.

 

Mason Meyer, 36, Los Angeles, CA

I just kicked off my Memorial Day summer plans with a trip to Costa Rica with a couple of my best buddies. We are hitting up all the hottest spots we heard about: up north in the jungle at Arenal Volcano to soak in the hot springs, rock climb through the waterfalls, zip line, and white water raft. Then we head down to the Pacific beach at Manuel Antonio. Finally a little time in San Jose to do a little urban cultural stuff like visiting the museums and the market. I’m still planning the rest of summer but I definitely want to go back to NYC to connect with friends and then spend most of my time on Fire Island and the Hamptons while I’m back East. Laguna is fun for the Fourth of July so I’ll probably do that.  Lastly, I want to go to Hawaii for a week or so in August since I haven’t been yet and it’s not a far trip from LA. I hear Maui and Kauai are amazing.

Tips for the best summer ever: Don’t let it pass you by. Do something or go somewhere you’ve never been. And always have fun doing it.

The song of the summer will be: “I Took a Pill in Ibiza”, by Mike Posner

 

 

Laura Calçada, 28, and Fanny Zarifi, 25, Brooklyn, NY

Working and enjoying New York City until the beginning of August. Then we are traveling to Europe. We still have to figure out where and when. But the plan is to go to my hometown Marseille and my family house in Provence. Then to Laura’s Italian family in Positano. We’d also love to spend one or two weeks in this little hotel we’ve heard about in Mexico, which looks like paradise on earth. Plans for the future: to get married there!

Tips for the best summer ever: Spend it with people you love and a glass of French rosé.

The song of the summer will be: “Hold Up”, by Beyoncé

 

 

Jacob Groody, 25, Alameda, CA

This summer I’ll be moving from Alameda, California to Portland, Oregon. I’m moving in the beginning of summer and for the rest of it, I’ll be unpacking, decorating, and looking for a job. My ideal summer would be to go to Mendocino. My family and I would sometimes stay there and it was always a lot of fun. I haven’t gone in years and I miss it! But I’ve always been a winter person: hot days while wearing two binders can be a real drag!

Tips for the best summer ever: Take a lot of pictures, wear a lot of sunscreen, and be a little more spontaneous than you normally would be.

The song of the summer will be: “HandClap”, by Fitz and the Tantrums. 

 

 

Leslie Howitt, 53, New York, NY

It’s always a gay summer for me. Pride is like my Christmas! (Howitt is a proud straight ally.) This Summer I’m having fun in Fire Island Pines, of course! I love spending a few months on the Island painting and dancing. I also like traveling here and there. Greece would be nice. Every summer gets better. I meet new people and make new friends… and reconnect with old ones.

Tips for the best summer ever: Spend as much time as you can with good friends, laugh as much as possible. Dance, beach, beach, beach and wear sunscreen.

The song of the summer will be: “Can’t Stop the Feeling”, by Justin Timberlake

 

 

Valerio Rosa, 45, Miami, FL

I just arrived in East Hampton from Miami, and I’ll stay here until a little after Labor Day. I’m going to be working here, and having a lot a fun with my friends, as I do every Summer. We love hanging out at home drinking wine, having barbecues, going to Two Mile Hollow Beach, eating at the town’s cute little restaurants and sitting around bonfires at the beach. I’m also going to celebrate Pride in New York City, which I haven’t done in a while. I hope this is going to be a really good summer.

Tips for the best summer ever: If you are in the Hamptons, check out the town’s little restaurants and bars. And eat the lobster!

The song of the summer will be: “Hold Up”, by Beyoncé

 

 

Enio Cavaretto, 51 and Michael Leary, 48, Charlotte, NC

We have a few trips planned for the summer.  In June, we are going to Gay Pride in New York City, a longstanding tradition for us and great time to reconnect with friends and celebrate our community on grand scale. After the Pride festivities, we will head out to the Hamptons to relax and visit friends there as well. Later in the summer, we are making a trip to Northern Michigan to visit with family and enjoy the beauty of the Great Lakes. We’ll be in Deer Lake, near Boyne Mountain in Michigan, go on boat trips, and visit the little towns in the area. We used to go every year and take the dog, when we lived in Chicago.

Tips for the best summer ever: Fully embrace every moment, conversation, glance and adventure that comes your way; be ready to be amazed. Spend quality time with friends, have fun, laugh, drink wine, go to the beach, watch sunsets.

The song of the summer will be: “U Wear It Well”, by RuPaul or “Work” by Rihanna.  

 

 

Nicole J. Caruth, 37, Omaha NE

I’ll be doing travel-work more than vacationing this summer, though I’m fortunate that my jobs requires me to engage with artists and art spaces. I plan to see as much art as possible this summer, particularly in the middle of the country. Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Denver, Kansas City, and Chicago are on my list. I’d also love to spend one week at the Berlin Biennial, two weeks in Mumbai followed by a month volunteering on a farm or researching food insecurity near New Delhi, and a month in Thailand taking yoga with the fabulous Tara Eden, a former New York City-based instructor.

Tips for the best summer ever: Do two things you didn’t do last summer.

The song of the summer will be: Something from Drake’s new album.

 

 

Tom Meier, 49, Long Island City, NY and Ron Tuazon, 43, Montreal, Canada

It’s important to not only plan ahead, but be spontaneous and go what feels like fun. This year, we kicked off our summer in Montreal. We are celebrating Pride in New York City, of course, and right after that we’ll go to  Fire Island Pines for July 4th weekend. In August, we’ll go back to Montreal for Pride, and then an entire week in the Pines. We are also doing a weekend in the Hamptons, but haven’t decided when, yet.

Tips for the best summer ever: Break free from your routine, stay up late, miss some workouts, sample all the food at the BBQ, have a tequila-fueled night. Dance on the beach. Laugh as much as possible. Surround yourself with great friends, fresh food and sunshine.

The song of the summer will be: “Can’t Stop the Feeling”, by Justin Timberlake.

 

 

Towleroad readers, let us know in the comments where you’ll be going, what your summer tips are, and your vote for the song of the summer.

Please respect the choices of fellow readers – no personal attacks, please.

The post Summer 2016: What You’re Doing to Make This the Sexiest Season Ever appeared first on Towleroad.

feeds.towleroad.com/~r/towleroad/feed/~3/GCSRZv3oNx0/

New York Catholic Church Spent $2 Million To Block Reform of Child Sex Abuse Laws: VIDEO

The Catholic church has spent more than $2 million on lobbying in an effort to block a bill that would make it easier for child sex abuse victims to seek justice.

Headed by New York City Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the New York Catholic Conference used Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker, Patricia Lynch & Associates, Hank Sheinkopf, and Mark Behan Communications on external lobbying between 2007 and 2015 in areas related to “statute of limitations,” “timelines for commencing certain civil actions related to sex offenses,” parochial school funding and investment tax credits. The contract with Wilson Elser was not renewed this year and the church is now paying another prominent firm, Greenberg Traurig, $6,000-a-month.

@NicoleJohnston same Cardinal Timothy Dolan has the chutzpah to lecture Obama on morals @XolaniMvulana @garweh2011 @Abebab @debbieflorence

— Taff Gidi (@GidiTaff) May 31, 2016

Cardinal Dolan has compared same-sex marriage to incest, denied LGBT Catholics entry to mass and insisted gay people are entitled to friendship, not marriage.

RELATED: NYC Cardinal Dolan Says Archdiocese Investigating Priest’s Alleged Embezzlement for Male Escort

The church has argued that opening a one-year window to revive old cases could could lead to bankruptcy. Along with the Catholic church, some Orthodox Jewish groups and other private entities have opposed legislation by Assemblywoman Margaret Markey and Senator Brad Hoylman that would eliminate the time limit prohibiting adults bringing civil cases after their 23rd birthdays.

Timothy Cardinal Dolan ripped for delaying talk on child sex abuse It is clear that dolan doesn’t give a “F” ! t.co/XSaTtaFqSx

— A Baselice (@LeftSPhilly) May 25, 2016

According to NYC Daily News, Melanie Blow, chief operations officer of the Stop Abuse Campaign said “They are willing to spend limitless money in order to basically keep bad guys from being accountable for their actions. I think they’re doing it because they don’t want to have to pay out settlements.”

Kathryn Robb, an advocate and abuse survivor added “If they need to spend that much money on lobbying, clearly, then, they have some pretty big secrets to hide.”

Spokesman Dennis Poust said “the Catholic Conference lobbies on many issues, from assisted suicide to farm worker rights to school choice to criminal justice reform…it is all a matter of public record. We have no further comment beyond that.”

Watch Dolan discuss Pope Francis’ comments on LGBT people, same-sex marriage and gay priests below.

The post New York Catholic Church Spent $2 Million To Block Reform of Child Sex Abuse Laws: VIDEO appeared first on Towleroad.

feeds.towleroad.com/~r/towleroad/feed/~3/PpsPom1xNJI/

Dan Patrick Launches Crusade Against Every Transgender Student In Texas

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) wants to make sure no school in the state ever respect or accommodate a transgender student.

The post Dan Patrick Launches Crusade Against Every Transgender Student In Texas appeared first on ThinkProgress.

thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2016/06/01/3783763/dan-patrick-transgender-offense/

The Huge Problem With The Way The Media Is Covering Amber Heard’s Abuse Allegations

Amber Heard’s bisexuality has become a focus for the media when reporting on her abuse.

The post The Huge Problem With The Way The Media Is Covering Amber Heard’s Abuse Allegations appeared first on ThinkProgress.

thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2016/06/01/3783422/amber-heard-biphobia/

A Federal Court Just Silently Slipped A Knife Into North Carolina’s Anti-LGBT Bathroom Bill

Score another loss for the forces of discrimination.

The post A Federal Court Just Silently Slipped A Knife Into North Carolina’s Anti-LGBT Bathroom Bill appeared first on ThinkProgress.

thinkprogress.org/justice/2016/06/01/3783700/federal-court-just-silently-slipped-knife-north-carolinas-anti-lgbt-bathroom-bill/

HRC Honors Blogging for LGBTQ Families Day

Today, HRC is proud to celebrate the 11th annual Blogging for LGBTQ Families Day.

Each year, LGBTQ-headed families and their allies from across the nation show their support for LGBTQ families by sharing their photos, experiences, videos and stories using the hashtag #LGBTQFamilies on social media.

You can join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or YouTube by posting about any topic related to LGBTQ families using the hashtag #LGBTQFamilies.

Are you looking for ideas on how to join the conversation? Mombian.org has created a great list of 15 things you can write about to help get you started!

At a time when we have seen appalling attacks on LGBTQ-headed families in state legislatures around the country, HRC is proud to celebrate and support all families. HRC is committed to the continuing fight for legal equity and fairness for LGBTQ-headed families. Check out some of HRC Foundation’s resources addressing the many potential paths to parenthood, as well as tools to confront issues facing LGBTQ-headed families or LGBTQ youth.

Dana Rudolph started Blogging for LGBTQ Families Day as part of an effort of Mombian.org,  a website for lesbian moms and other LGBTQ parents, offering a mix of parenting, politics, diversions, and resources.

You can read more about LGBTQ Families Day by going to Mombian.org or by following the hashtag #LGBTQFamilies on social media.

HRC’s All Children – All Families project promotes LGBTQ cultural competency among child welfare agencies through innovative resources including an online agency self-assessment tool; comprehensive staff training, free technical assistance, and more. Learn more here.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-honors-blogging-for-lgbtq-families-day?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

HRC Alabama Celebrates Pride Season

Post sumbitted by Eva Walton Kendrick, HRC Alabama State Manager

With the start of the summer months, the heat and humidity won’t be the only things returning to Alabama. Beginning the first of June, cities around the state will celebrate pride season and HRC Alabama will be there every city along the way. 

Our staff and volunteers look forward to the opportunity to meet you, hear your stories and share the work we are doing in your city and across the state to make achieve full equality for all LGBTQ Alabamians.

Make sure to take a look at our HRC Alabama pride schedule below to identify the pride event nearest you. We will have booths at Central Alabama Pride, Shoals Pride Fest, Rocket City Pride, Montgomery Pride, Tuscaloosa Pride and Mobile Pride. Each booth will include valuable LGBTQ resources and fantastic new HRC gear. All visitors to the HRC booths will have the chance to join HRC’s more than 1.5 million members and supporters on the right side of history.

June
Friday, June 3, 6:30 p.m. – Birmingham, “Out at the Field: LGBTQ Night with the Birmingham Barons”

Saturday, June 11 – Birmingham, Central Alabama Pride Parade, contact Tori Wolfe-Sisson ([email protected]) to sign up to march with HRC Alabama

Sunday, June 12, 11 am – 8 pm – Birmingham, Central Alabama Pride Fest. (Sign up to staff the HRC Alabama booth here.)

Saturday, June 18, 11 am – 10 pm – Huntsville, Rocket City Pride. Sign up to staff the HRC Alabama booth here. 

Saturday, June 18 – Florence, Shoals Pridefest. Sign up to staff the HRC Alabama booth here.

Saturday, June 25 – Sunday, June 26 – Montgomery, Montgomery Pride. Sign up to staff the HRC Alabama booth here.

October  
Sunday, October 23 – Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa Pride

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-alabama-celebrates-pride-season?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Celebs, advocates, organizations nationwide #StandWithTarget and LGBT acceptance

www.glaad.org/blog/celebs-advocates-organizations-nationwide-standwithtarget-and-lgbt-acceptance

PHOTOS: You'll Laugh, Then Cry at These Vintage Pride Photos

www.advocate.com/pride/2015/6/21/photos-youll-laugh-then-cry-these-vintage-pride-photos

Amid A Sea Of Violent Hate Crimes, Dallas Police Partner With Antigay Pastor

For over a year, Oak Lawn–Dallas’s prevailing gayborhood–has been terrorized by a wave of over a dozen violent antigay attacks that have kept the area on edge and under lockdown. Police have made exactly zero arrests thus far, leading residents to fight back and take matters into their own hands. Now, Dallas police Chief David Brown is being accused of maintaining a covert professional partnership with virulently antigay Fox News contributor Pastor Robert Jeffress and his Southern Baptist megachurch.

Related: Transphobic ‘Bathroom Cop’ Follows Dallas Woman Into The Restroom

The New Civil Rights Movement reports that Brown is facing criticism from various LGBTQ advocacy groups--particularly following a rabid speech from Pastor Jeffress that implies pro-gay businesses are an even bigger threat to American than ISIS. As a result, Brown has been doing some fairly acrobatic feats of backpedaling, including releasing the following prepared statement titled “A Message from the Chief”:

“As Chief, one of my greatest worries is the physical and emotional well-being of officers as they put their lives on the line every day to protect the citizens of Dallas. We encourage and support all of our officers who seek out services offered to maintain their physical, emotional, and spiritual health regardless of their religious affiliation.”

On April 17, 2016, First Baptist Dallas held a Back the Blue Event to show support for officers and offered free services to officers and their families.

There is no agreement or relationship between the Dallas Police Department and First Baptist Dallas to provide services to officers.

But as The New Civil Rights Movement points out, this press release directly contradicts previous sentiments Brown has expressed about the partnership, particularly when announcing the upcoming “Back the Blue Event,” with Jeffress in tow, during another press conference.

Related: After 12 Violent Antigay Hate Crimes, Dallas Police Finally Put Neighborhood On “Lock-Down”

Talking to WFAA-TV in April, Jeffress said, “This is not just a one-day photo op with the Dallas Police Department. This Sunday signals a beginning of an ongoing relationship with the Dallas Police Department.”

Among Jeffress’ promises, as reported by The Dallas Morning News: his congregation wound fund scholarships for police officer’s kids to go to Bible camps; he’d host a Sunday School service for cops each Sunday; he’d offer complimentary counseling sessions to police and their families; and the church would start a new fund so Brown could reward officers and show his appreciation for them.

The church even posted a video clip in which Brown says, “We are very grateful and thankful to First Baptist Dallas for all that they are doing, and we are really, really excited about this Sunday and the many, many Sundays thereafter where this church will be supporting our officers.”

And in the below video, Brown stands chummily beside Jeffress and says,”I’m excited about this special opportunity that First Baptist Dallas is offering to each of us and our families. Not only will the church be showing their support with a special breakfast reception, gifts and more, but they are going to provide an ongoing network of support like never before.”

So, for obvious reasons, people aren’t exactly sold on Brown’s recent statement.

Writing on Twitter, Councilman and LGBTQ advocate Philip Kingston quipped:

They had a week, and the best they could come up with is “These aren’t the droids you’re looking for?” They have… t.co/gIwNhSgRr4

— Philip Kingston (@PhilipTKingston) May 28, 2016

Lee Daughtery, a gay bar owner, said his statements were simple “pandering.”

“I still don’t have clarification on the relationship between FBC and DPD,” he wrote on Facebook. “Staying silent on hate speech, is the same as promoting it. Take a stand Chief, Dallas isn’t this, and won’t be. We are better than this.”

Avi Adelman, a Dallas crime watchdog, says he’s filed a public information request seeking concrete details about the business relationship. The department has apparently told him it will take about a month to get all the records together.

Regarding Brown’s statement, Adelman says, “If you think for one moment that is a truthful statement, then I have a bridge over the Trinity River I want to sell you. I am sure a strong attempt to cover the documents is already in the works.”

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/-oo3BIceGyQ/amid-sea-violent-hate-crimes-dallas-police-partner-antigay-pastor-20160601