NYC Launches ‘Look Past Pink and Blue’ Campaign Promoting Trans Bathroom Rights: VIDEOS

Oh, how we love New York.

Mayor Bill de Blasio and the New York City Commission on Human Rights launched early Tuesday #BeYouNYC, the first-ever citywide campaign affirming the rights of transgender New Yorkers and tourists to use restrooms consistent with their gender identity, regardless of their sex assigned at birth.

“Safe and equal bathrooms access is essential for everyone,” said Human Rights Commissioner and Chair Carmelyn P. Malalis. “And in New York City, it’s the law. Far too often, transgender people suffer bullying, harassment and violence for being who they are. These ads show that transgender people, like everyone else, have the right to use the restroom in peace.”

At a time when many cities across the U.S. see the rights of trans people taken away, New York City wants to remind its residents that equal bathroom access is not only a question of human rights; it’s also the law. With the campaign, the city is proud to reaffirm and honor the rights of transgender and gender non-conforming people.

The #BeYouNYC campaign will include videos and ads featuring four transgender New Yorkers. They will instruct readers to “look past pink and blue” and to “use the restrooms consistent with who you are.”

The ads will appear in buses, subway cars, phone booths and print media in English and Spanish. Ethnic newspaper ads will also appear in Korean, Chinese, Russian and Bengali.

New Yorkers approved:

Thanks @NYCMayorsOffice @NYCCHR for new campaign on right to use bathroom consistent with gender identity #BeYouNYC pic.twitter.com/63yVChJdJ7

— GMHC (@GMHC) June 6, 2016

#MotivationMonday: Cmr @CarmelynMalalis checks out our #BeYouNYC ad in @metronewyork. More: t.co/SbuFyzSjCh pic.twitter.com/reGszJ0Qmb

— NYC Human Rights (@NYCCHR) June 6, 2016

Councilmember Corey Johnson of Manhattan says that the “campaign reaffirms our commitment to equality as New Yorkers. When civil rights are under attack around the country, we in New York emphasize the importance of inclusion and diversity. That’s exactly what this campaign is all about. By bringing exposure to this important citywide policy, we are building a culture of acceptance and proclaiming our values as New Yorkers.”

Check out the videos below:

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Ireland Soccer Manager Martin O’Neill Issues Apology For ‘Queer’ Joke: VIDEO

With Euro 2016 set to kick off on Friday, the Republic of Ireland’s soccer team manager Martin O’Neill (above) is in hot water following a homophobic joke he made last week.

Referring to his trip to Super Bowl 50 this year, Martin said that he had taken coaches Steve Guppy and Steve Walford along for the ride so people would not think he and assistant manager Roy Keane were “queers”.

RELATED – This Supercut of ‘Gay’ Soccer Moments Shows Football is a Real Man-on-Man Sport: WATCH

O’Neill made a half-hearted apology for his comments, saying “If I have made inappropriate comments…I obviously apologise for it and I will attempt for the rest of my time here not to make such inappropriate comments. But it is a genuine apology.”

O’Neill later apologized further, addressing accusations that he had appeared less than sincere. “It was inappropriate and I might turn around and say crass now at the end of the day,” he said. “Almost the minute I had said it, I realized that I should not have said that, absolutely. I should not have said it. You are right to criticise me, believe it or not. Absolutely. It was inappropriate and I could not genuinely be more sorry, that’s the case.”

However, John McAree, the chairman of Ireland’s only all-male gay football team Dublin Devils FC (above right), said O’Neill’s comments send the wrong message to gay teen soccer fans:

“This is the wrong message to send to the LGBTI community a week before the Euro 2016 championships. O’Neill is an idol to many young gay teens all over Ireland. His comments will make them feel isolated, confused and different.  Many young LGBTI men and women play football at local level and support Ireland at International level.

“Many club members from the Dublin Devils will be in France next week wearing the Green Jersey supporting and shouting for Ireland. The club was disappointed to hear O’Neill’s comments as they do nothing to help with the ongoing issue of homophobia in the world of football – in fact, his comments are part of the problem.

“Our sexuality does not define us in the club. We see ourselves as a group of gay men who love to watch, support and play football.”

McAree added that the team hopes O’Neill’s comments can be put in the past in order to “focus on getting behind Ireland and offering the team as much support and encouragement as we possibly can.”

Others took to Twitter to blast O’Neill’s comments.

Worst part about the whole Martin O’Neill thing is that many seem to think it’s all down to “PC gone mad” or people looking for offence

— Colm O’Gorman (@Colmogorman) June 6, 2016

O Neill’s “Queer” comments are part of the problem

Ireland’s only all male gay football team describes Ireland… t.co/7aUnfQlGha

— Dublin Devils FC (@DublinDevilsFC) June 7, 2016

@The42_ie No you bollox, an apology never, ever contains the word “if”. So Martin , try again or shove it.

— johncuffe (@cuffejohn) June 6, 2016

Extraordinarily pathetic non-apology apology by Martin O’Neill for “queers” remark during @lstwrd t.co/Y8dohrOj3R

— David Cochrane (@davidcochrane) June 6, 2016

Well done @jmcaree for standing up to that disappointing remark from the Irish team manager 👍🏼t.co/afCJKxPDmM

— Dub Dave (@raifdub) June 7, 2016

Ireland will play their opening game against Sweden in Paris on June 13th.

Watch a report on O’Neill’s Euro 2016 squad selection below.

(Images via Twitter)

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'I Am Jazz' is back!

www.glaad.org/blog/i-am-jazz-back

Anti-Transgender Amendment to Federal Bill Would Restrict Capitol Bathroom Access (Video)

www.advocate.com/transgender/2016/6/08/anti-transgender-amendment-federal-bill-would-restrict-capitol-bathroom-access

Charlotte Chef Victimized in Brutal Antigay Attack, Points Finger at HB 2

“It’s almost… as if the new law,” she said, “gave people permission to be hateful.”

www.advocate.com/crime/2016/6/08/charlotte-chef-victimized-brutal-antigay-attack-points-finger-hb-2

Nearly Half Of Gay Men Use Adult Films For Sex Education

Oh dear, we’re in trouble.

A new survey shows that almost half of gay men in England have watched pornography for “education” about how to have sex. This is like watching The Matrix to learn kung-fu.

The charity GMFA asked over a thousand gay men where they learned about sex. Not surprisingly, an overwhelming majority reported no instruction in school — or at least, no instruction that applied to same-sex relationships.

Related: Data Shows Ladies Love Gay Porn. Can You Blame Them?

And so where did they look for instruction instead?

Pornography, of course!

And that would be fine, except nothing that happens in porn is real, so that 41 percent of gay men who learned about anal sex from porn are in for some surprises. You seldom see the hygiene preparations in adult films, not to mention diligent STI testing.

What’s more, 34 percent learned about oral sex through porn. And 13 percent of respondents said they had riskier bareback sex after watching bareback pornography.

Don’t get us wrong, porn is great. It’s fun. Let’s all watch a lot of it. But we also have a responsibility to be smart and not dive into bed without learning how to do it safely in the real world.

Related: An Infographic Of Global Internet Porn Habits

If there’s a lesson here, it’s not to criticize pornography for being unrealistic — that’s not its job — but to criticize schools for doing such a poor job of preparing young people for the bodies they inhabit. Pretending that everyone is straight and celibate until married does a disservice to everyone. Straight people wind up pregnant; and queer people wind up with infections and injuries.

And that’s just the worst-case scenario. Because you so seldom see happy fulfilled partnerships in porn or in educational materials, LGBTQs are unprepared for building strong relationships. They might think that finding love is impossible, if they don’t see any models among all the straight couples presented by popular culture. Or they might think that the only way to connect is with a glamorous sex act.

Having a fantasy life is fine — let’s just hope that near-majority of gay men who learn about sex from porn don’t get stuck in theirs.

Related: Hetero Guys Open Up About Their Gay Porn Fetishes With Each Other

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‘Boxers or Briefs?’ Naked Tom of Finland Models Spill – WATCH 

The Underwear Expert journeyed to the Los Angeles neighborhood of Echo Park recently to chat with naked figure models posing for life drawing at the Tom of Finland House. We’ve previously told you about the house, which serves as HQ for the Tom of Finland Foundation.

In the latest episode of The Underwear Expert’s popular web series “Boxers of Briefs”, host DanielXMiller asked two naked models what drawers they prefer to wear when they’re not posing in their birthday suits.

Previously, UE has talked with shirtless parkour athletes, Democratic primary voters, dodgeball players, WeHo kickball players, DJs, dancers, CrossFit-ers, male models, and men on the street in Hollywood, WeHo, and Santa Monica about what they like to wear under their shorts.

Check out the latest installment (which may be briefly work-unfriendly) below.

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Madonna and Obama, Archerfish, Republicans Against Trump, iPhone 7, Drones: NEWS

2016 ELECTION. Clinton launches “Republicans Against Trump” campaign, website. “The website, republicansagainsttrump.org, was registered on May 27 and launched on June 2, according to domain registration records. The Clinton campaign only appears to have begun buying ads to promote the site more recently.”

INCOMING. Obama and Madonna to guest on The Tonight Show this Thursday: “The NBC late-night program promised it would be a “one of a kind” episode. It is already, being what we’re confident is the first time the President of the United States name has been used in a news release that also contains the words “Bitch I’m Madonna.” It’s going to be Obama’s first time on Tonight since Jimmy Fallon took over as host.”

FLASHBACK. Madonna: ‘The person I most want to meet is President Obama’ “When the heck am I going to meet him? He just needs to invite me to the White House already. He probably thinks I’m too shocking to be there…I’m serious. If I was a little bit more demure … or if I was just married to Jay-Z.”

SINGAPORE. Government blocks foreign sponsors from LGBT events: “The Government’s general position has always been that foreign entities should not interfere in our domestic issues, especially political issues or controversial social issues with political overtones. These are political, social or moral choices for Singaporeans to decide for ourselves. LGBT issues are one such example. “This is why under the rules governing the use of the Speakers’ Corner, for events like Pink Dot, foreigners are not allowed to organise or speak at the events, or participate in demonstrations.”

I SEE YOU. Smart fish can recognize human faces. “A tropical fish can tell one human face from another despite lacking a brain section that homo sapiens and other “smart” animals use for this task, scientists said Tuesday. The astonishing ability was demonstrated in experiments with eight archerfish, a tropical species best known for spitting pressurised water jets to shoot prey out of the air.”

iPHONE 7. Audiophiles may be thrilled about Apple’s plan to ditch the headphone jack: “The review makes the general case that Lightning headphones have the potential to hand crucial audio reproduction tasks back to the headphone maker, relegating the iPhone to the role of simple digital source. For high-end listening enthusiasts, this is said to be a potential game-changer, although the impact on an iPhone 7’s battery life obviously remains unclear.”

ADVERTISING. Carl’s Jr. is now serving CGI cheeseburgers.

FROM ABOVE. The New York City Drone Film Festival’s compilation video.

HUMP DAY HOTTIE. Miguel Gione.

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NEW MUSIC: Beck, Jarvis Cocker, Paul Simon

This week in New Music: Beck revisits Odelay on new single “Wow,” Jarvis Cocker returns with his first official new release since 2009 and Paul Simon drops his best album since The Rhythm of the Saints.

Beck – “Wow”

Beck (above) has had a chequered career but remains best known probably for 1996’s Odelay. That despite classics such as Modern Guilt, Seachange and 2014’s Morning Phase.

Perhaps given the 20th anniversary of Odelay, “Wow” sounds like it could have come off of that album.

Some people were put off by albums like 2002 heartbreaker Seachange. If you’re one of them, listen to “Wow” to remind yourself of why you loved him in the first place.

Jarvis Cocker – Music From ‘Likely Stories’

Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker has been quiet of late apart from working with Beck on Song Reader and getting arty for a soundtrack to his Paris exhibition 20 Golden Greats last year.

Music From ‘Likely Stories’ is the accompanying soundtrack to a new BBC series of the same name.

The four-track release sees Cocker in an introspective mood. “Four grubby tales set in all night cafes,” he explains, “low rent drinking dens and doctor’s surgeries. I didn’t have to leave my comfort zone for this assignment.”

Sums it up really. Yorkshire’s answer to Leonard Cohen.

Paul Simon – Stranger to Stranger

74-year-old Paul Simon returns with his 13th studio album a full 30 years after the classic Graceland.

Much like that album, Stranger to Stranger is concerned with sound more than lyrics and much like the ‘86 album, it is infused with African instrumentation. He says he’s more interested in the music and the depth of sound here is startling. However, he’s also still deeply concerned with topics close to his heart including social justice and inequality. “If you don’t have a wristband,” he sings, “you don’t get through the door.”

“In a Parade” is the most obviously “tribal” track on the album while closing track “Insomniac’s Lullaby” is a return to balladeering – “Oh Lord, don’t keep me up all night with questions I can’t understand.”

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#AM_Equality Tip Sheet: June 8, 2016

HILLARY CLINTON’S HISTORIC VICTORY MARKS A MILESTONE FOR EQUALITY: Following news of Hillary Clinton’s New Jersey primary win last night, HRC President Chad Griffin hailed her historic victory, saying “Hillary Clinton made history tonight in more ways than one. As the first woman to secure the nomination of a major political party, she has shattered barriers that have persisted since this country’s founding. She has also laid out the most ambitious agenda for LGBTQ equality that our nation has ever seen from a presidential candidate. With Donald Trump threatening to roll back all the progress our community has made under President Obama, the stakes for millions of LGBTQ Americans couldn’t be higher in this election — and our choice on November 8 couldn’t be clearer.” Secretary Clinton has made LGBTQ equality a pillar of her campaign — and her detailed LGBTQ policy platform specifically calls for dropping the ban on open transgender military service, outlawing dangerous “conversion therapy” for minors, ending the epidemic of transgender violence and supporting HIV prevention and affordable treatment, among other proposals that would advance equality. Clinton’s agenda and record of achievement starkly contrasts that of Donald Trump, who has vowed to roll back and block LGBTQ equality at every turn.

• Clinton racked up primary wins last night in California, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota, locking down 2,755 pledged and superdelegates, 571 more than needed to secure the nomination. She took the big prize of California with more than 56 percent of the vote.

GOP SEN. MARK KIRK RESCINDS ENDORSEMENT OF “UN-AMERICAN” TRUMP: Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), in a powerful statement yesterday, became the first Republican senator seeking reelection to withdraw support from GOP presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump. Coincidentally parts of Kirk’s statement aligned with one of the most shared lines of Hillary Clinton’s speech, saying: “I have spent my life building bridges and tearing down barriers — not building walls… Donald Trump’s latest statements, in context with past attacks on Hispanics, women and the disabled like me, make it certain that I cannot and will not support my party’s nominee for President…”

• Meanwhile, North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, who signed the state’s notoriously anti-LGBTQ HB2 into law, endorsed Trump, who has vowed to roll back marriage equality, enable Kim Davis-style discrimination and support HB2’s discriminatory provisions. Read more about yesterday’s endorsement at WRAL.

AND THE AWARD FOR BEST HB2 FACT-CHECK GOES TO… INDY Week has given HRC the “award for the best HB2 fact-check” for calling out NC Senator Phil Berger’s lies in the letter he sent to corporate leaders defending his discriminatory HB2 law. The letter, sent just before the state legislature returned to session, inherently acknowledged what an economic disaster HB2 has been for the state as companies looked to protect their employees and consumers from discrimination and harm. It also contained the worst of the lies and misinformation Senator Berger has been peddling since HB2 was enacted. HRC took the liberty of redlining Senator Berger’s letter with the truth in what INDY Week says was a “wonderfully snarky fashion.” We’ll gladly take the props for that.

ROY MOORE’S LATEST STALLING TACTICS: Yesterday, disgraced Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice continued his reckless pattern of delaying justice and skirting the law, by engaging in stall tactics to delay responding to charges by the Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission. Moore was suspended last month over his defiance of federal marriage equality rulings and given 30 days to respond. In typical fashion however, he asked for a two-week extension to respond, and the request was granted yesterday by Michael Joiner, chief judge of Alabama’s Court of the Judiciary. For more than a year, Moore has attempted to deny same-sex couples their constitutional right to marry. This extension does not change the facts — Moore is unfit to serve and should be permanently removed from the Court. More from AL.com.

• Speaking of stalling, businessman, lifelong Republican and former U.S. Ambassador Earle I. Mack (appointed by President George W. Bush) urged Republican leaders yesterday to do their job and confirm Judge Merrick Garland, President Obama’s highly-qualified Supreme Court nominee. Mack, in a piece reprinted in a full-page ad in The New York Times, urged Republicans to “stop being the unreasonable party” by holding Garland’s nomination hostage. More from HRC.

SEASON 2 OF I AM JAZZ TO PREMIERE TODAY: HRC Youth Ambassador and transgender activist Jazz Jennings returns to television this week with today’s premiere of the second season of her TLC docu-series I Am Jazz. The show chronicles 15-year-old Jazz and her family as they navigate the unique challenges she faces as a transgender teen, including the ups and downs of entering high school and learning to drive. Viewers will see Jazz in her role as an HRC Youth Ambassador, speaking at HRC Foundation’s third annual Time to THRIVE Conference, held in February. More from HRC.

• Accidental Activists, a new film that shares Jayne Rowse and April DeBoer’s brave struggle to adopt their children and disband Michigan’s constitutional amendment that prohibited marriage equality, will be screened at HRC’s headquarters on June 21. Read more and RSVP here.
• Corey Maison, a young trans girl, shares her story of bullying, fear, ignorance — and then love and acceptance, in a powerful video going viral. More from Teen Vogue.

GAVIN GRIMM’S DISCRIMINATION CASE MAY HEAD TO THE US SUPREME COURT: Virginia’s Gloucester County School District announced in a filing yesterday that it will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the discrimination case brought against the district by transgender teen Gavin Grimm. Despite the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling in favor of Grimm, the district is now asking the appeals court to put its ruling on hold and keep the district’s discriminatory policy in place while the Supreme Court petition is pending. The ACLU, which filed the case on behalf of Grimm, opposes the request and will file its own response to the request.

KESHA CREATES LGBTQ MAGIC AT DISNEY WORLD: Kesha helped create some magic during her performance at Disney World last weekend. The pop star, who has been a fierce advocate for LGBTQ equality, helped orchestrate a surprise, on-stage engagement for two of her gay fans (he said yes!). “If you don’t support equal rights, then we have nothing in common,” Kesha declared after the proposal. “Only love here please!” More from The Huffington Post.

• Weird Al Yankovic has also taken a stand for LGBTQ equality, announcing that he will donate proceeds from his June 18 show in Greensboro, NC, to HRC.

NBA CELEBRATES PRIDE MONTH: All 30 of the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) teams have released a limited edition LGBTQ Pride month shirt. The shirts feature each team’s logo colored with a rainbow design. The two-week campaign comes days after the NBA clarified that they are “deeply concerned” about North Carolina’s discriminatory HB2 law, which could compromise the league’s plan to host its 2017 All-Star game in Charlotte. More from Forbes.

READING RAINBOW

The Washington Blade lays out how a Donald Trump presidency would undermine LGBTQ rights… TIME reviews a new documentary about a relationship between two gay Iraqi soldiers… ThinkProgress breaks down Rep. Steve King’s latest anti-LGBTQ attack… The New York Times asks “Is it okay to take a gender non-conforming child to North Carolina?”… Meet the Texas A&M professor who believes an email from an LGBTQ group is “a form of sexual harassment”… and The Advocate breaks down the reason Senator Lindsey Graham dumped Trump.

Have news? Send us your news and tips at [email protected]. Click here to subscribe to A.M. Equality and follow @HRC for all the latest news. Thanks for reading!

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