Bernie Sanders Vows to Take Fight to Philadelphia Convention (Video)

www.advocate.com/election/2016/6/08/bernie-sanders-vows-take-fight-philadelphia-convention-video

Money, Sex And Homophobia: It’s Hard Out There For A Male Model

It’s not easy to sympathize with models–poor beautiful, glamorous things. But if beauty is pain, then the modeling industry seems to be a truly unique torture device, and while the horrors and exploitation that female models experience are depressingly common knowledge, the struggles of male models go largely unnoticed.

“Men and boys are increasingly at risk in the odd, unregulated workplace that is the fashion world,” writes former model Edward Siddons in a new Newsweek exposé. “Being a man does not make you safe: Male models are often subject to sexual harassment but rarely report it. And, like their female counterparts, they are under intense pressure to have just the right kind of body.”

Related: Fitness Model Ben Hetfleisch Spins Like A Shish Kebab For Your Viewing Pleasure

Along with his own story, Siddons interviews fellow models and industry insiders to reveal just what these pretty boys are up against. There are tales of models on the hook to their agencies for travel expenses to low-paying jobs, frequent unpaid work (models often have to take pro-bono jobs to build their recognition), and grueling (unpaid) casting schedules. And like their female counterparts, male models face rampant unwanted sexual advances and flagrant disregard for their health and body image.

Take this gem from Ann Demeulemeester’s creative director Sebastien Meunier: “We are not doing anything shocking: We’re making clothes that are perfectly decent and acceptable. At the end of the day, [models] are adults. There’s no problem here.”

This despite the fact that the industry has come under fire repeatedly for its use of models as young as 14 years of age.

Related: If You’ve Ever Wanted To See Top Model Keith Carlos In His Birthday Suit, Here You Go

In the LGBTQ community, particularly those of us interested in dismantling the gender binary, we tend to think of androgyny in fashion as a good thing. But that aesthetic takes a toll on models, according to Siddons: “The androgynous look pushes male models to lose muscle mass and women to lose their natural curves.”

But, he continues, muscular models like David Gandy aren’t necessarily any healthier: “Researchers and mental health experts have coined the term bigorexia to describe muscle dysmorphia, a distorted perception of the body as too weak and lacking muscle that fuels obsessive workouts even among the most toned men and bodybuilders.”

Meanwhile, Siddons points out that “the majority of the countries in the world where models work have no legislation protecting these young people.”

Related: To Moisture Wick Or To Not…Ask This Model

Of course, one problem that Siddons doesn’t address, and that no one to my knowledge is really talking about, is the insidious homophobia within the male modeling industry.

Working for menswear magazines, booking models for photo shoots, and reporting on male models for other LGBTQ sites, I’ve personally encountered that homophobia. I’ve had male models ask to have their photos taken offline months after a photo shoot was posted because their agencies have told them that being associated with a gay magazine was costing them work. I’ve had a model who I know is gay–who is out in his day-to-day life, who is a fixtures on New York’s gay scene–ask me to remove his name from feature story about his own same-sex wedding.

It’s disheartening to think that an industry as associated with gay men as the fashion industry can harbor such antiquated ideas.

Related: Model Nick Bateman Shares An Unparralled View Of His Posterior

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‘Transcendent’ Reality Stars Say They Can Relate To Caitlyn Jenner

Believe it or not, Caitlyn Jenner is not the only trans person with her own reality show.

The gorgeous trans employees of San Francisco’s iconic AsiaSF restaurant and nightclub are also on their own path towards becoming reality TV royalty. Last year their show, Transcendent, captured the ladies’ larger-than-life personalities, fueling plenty of backstage drama. This is reality TV, after all.

This year, the women of Transcendent have been selected to participate as SF Pride Celebrity Grand Marshals. We spoke to two cast members, Nya and Bambiana, about their proudest moments leading up to Pride, on and off-screen.

You can watch what really happens backstage at AsiaSF when the second season of Transcendent premieres this Wednesday, June 8 on Fuse.  

What has been your experience as a member of the trans community living in San Francisco?

Nya: I’ve been blessed to have found a family at AsiaSF that supports me in everything I do. Unfortunately, that is not the case for every trans person. What I love about San Francisco is that there are so many resources for trans folks. Whether it be housing, job search and medical assistance, help with name and gender change, the list goes on.

Bambiana: My first experience with the trans community was actually when I started working at AsiaSF. I’ve been there for three years, but I’ve known about it since before it even opened.  The owner, Larry, is a close friend of mine. Working with the ladies there has helped me better understand the trans community.  

What do you love most about working at AsiaSF?

Nya: I’ve been working at AsiaSF for 13 years.  I was 19 when a friend introduced me to the choreographer, Ronnie Reddick. I used to come in and work even if I wasn’t getting paid because I was eager to learn and now I know it was because I finally found a place where I could be myself and not be judged. I was home.

Nya

What does SF Pride mean to you as a trans person?

Nya: We’re here, we’ve been here and we are not going anywhere. I am overjoyed that trans people don’t feel the need to hide in the shadows anymore. We can live life to the fullest and celebrate our struggles and success.

Bambiana: I have had the pleasure of attending many gay pride events in other cities and none of them compare to San Francisco Pride. Here, one of the most open-minded and culturally advanced places in the U.S., the whole city celebrates.

Do you think San Francisco overall is a welcoming place for the trans community?

Nya: Of course, there are many ways we can better things, but the city of San Francisco is definitely on the right track. Mayor Ed Lee even banned city workers to travel to North Carolina because of the anti-trans bathroom laws. Trans lives are at stake here.

Bambiana: San Francisco Pride brings visibility to the trans community, but it’s not just a recent development. San Francisco has been supporting the trans community forever. I couldn’t be luckier [to live here].

Trans visibility in media is certainly at an all-time-high, but some trans people are still misunderstood. What are some of the biggest misconceptions people have about the trans community?

Nya: That we are perverts and sexual predators. #WeJustNeedToPee! There are more reported sexual assaults in bathrooms by men in Congress. And trans people have zero.

Bambiana: The biggest misconception is that we have options. It’s either we live our life unhappily or we can try to live an authentic life as trans people.

Nya: People think the Ladies of AsiaSF are just dancers but we are much more than that. Yes, we are show girls but we are also educating every single person that walks into AsiaSF. We give people a good show while giving them a different perspective about trans women.  

Bambiana: We represent a small portion of the trans community. There are trans women and men all over the world with different backgrounds and experiences. We are as unique as any other community.

Bambiana

Do you think being on Transcendent is helping clear up these misconceptions?

Nya: Definitely. The viewers can see that we are just living life just like everyone else. Is it every trans person’s experience? Definitely not, but it is giving people some perspective on our lives as trans women. We might not change everyone’s minds, but I’d like to think that we are making a difference in our own little way.

Bambiana: We can only hope for so much from a television show. I don’t know how far we can get in opening people’s hearts or minds with our community.

What are some of the most memorable responses you’ve received from being on the show?

Nya: From parents of trans children. It warms my heart when people thank me for just being myself. I’m a girl that came from nothing and is still trying hard to make something of her life. But realizing that my existence is helping young trans people out there find their own paths is the best feeling in the world.

Bambiana: I have gotten positive and negative responses from within the trans community. After the first season aired, I realized that I signed up for an important job – this is bigger than what I thought – representing my community. It’s a lot of pressure and a honor at the same time.

Some trans people get irked whenever Caitlyn Jenner is brought up in conversations about the trans movement and visibility. Why do you think that is?

Nya: It really annoys me when people criticize Caitlyn. Everyone has a different journey and she is living her life the way God intended. She may not have had the same struggles that every trans person has had but she is learning and trying to help our community in her own way. Don’t hate! Congratulate!  

Bambiana: They’re mad [at Caitlyn] for the same reasons that they get mad at me. They forget every trans person is different and has a different path. A lot of people don’t agree with how I live my life or the things I say. Caitlyn Jenner has the same problem.

Transcendent aims to portray the real-life struggles you face day-to-day. Do you think showing the not-so-glamorous side is important?

Nya: Yes, it’s not all glitz and glam 24/7.  We’re human beings that are trying to make it in life, whether it be in or out of six-inch heels. Season two will explore some of the girls’ past struggles with homelessness, dating as trans women, wanting to start families, as well as reconnecting with families. Spoiler alert: I’m the biggest cry baby this season.

Bambiana: The second season you get to realize how different we [the Transcendent cast members] all are. And how competitive the environment can be working at a place like AsiaSF.

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Charlotte, NC Chef Says She Was Body-slammed by Teens After Being Called Anti-Gay Slurs

Police in Charlotte, North Carolina have arrested two 17-year-old girls following an alleged assault on a gay woman on Sunday night.

The FBI is considering whether the attack should be dealt with as a hate crime.

The victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, spoke to the Observer about the attack:

She said the assault occurred as she and a co-worker were walking home after work early Saturday evening. She said they passed a group of six or seven females and one male on Trade Street between Tryon and Church. Without any provocation, she said, one of the women yelled out:

“Hey, are you a stud?”

A stud is a euphemism for a masculine-looking lesbian.

She said she didn’t respond, didn’t make eye contact and kept walking. But, she said, the woman continued to taunt: “Oh, yeah, you are a stud.”

RT @CharlotteMugs: KIARA MARIE JOHNSON got their #mugshot posted to Charlotte Mugshots t.co/DW2wkJQT5B pic.twitter.com/qQDs15dGYn

— Adam Bernas (@adamberns) February 23, 2016

Again, she said she ignored the verbal harassment. She said the woman then screamed a string of derogatory statements, including: “You’re a faggot. … You’re a queer….”

She said she didn’t respond. She said it’s the way she reacts under such circumstances. “I don’t pay them any mind.”

But as she and her co-worker crossed Church Street, they realized the group was following.

“All of a sudden, the guy comes up beside me and said, ‘Let me ask you a question.’ That’s when she attacked me. She screamed, ‘You’re f—— going to die!’ and … she jumped right on me with a hit to the face.

“I hit the ground pretty hard. She kicked me a couple of times in the ribs.”

She said her co-worker pulled the assailant away, and a second female then turned on the co-worker, punching her in the face.

The victim, a chef at a Charlotte restaurant, added that since the passage of North Carolina’s controversial anti-LGBT HB2 law, verbal assaults have increased because people now have “permission to be hateful.”

RELATED: Gay Couple Assaulted by Cop and Jailed for Kissing in Grocery Store to Receive $80K Settlement

Her attackers, Thomasena Michelle Chisolm (above left) and Kiara Marie Johnson (above right) have been charged with misdemeanor assault. Both have previous arrest records but most charges were dismissed.

(Images via Charlotte Mugshots)

The post Charlotte, NC Chef Says She Was Body-slammed by Teens After Being Called Anti-Gay Slurs appeared first on Towleroad.

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Ohio Man: I Was Kicked Off a Bus for ‘Being Gay’ – WATCH

Benjamin Purdom, a Columbus, Ohio resident, had a very strange bus ride on his way to work this week.

Writes Purdom on Facebook:

So, I had a weird experience yesterday: I got kicked off COTA for being gay (or rather, wearing eyeliner).

I boarded the 83 bus on the way to work, and sat in the seat one before the back doors, so the driver could see me with some clarity.

While going down Innis Road, she randomly exclaims “I SEE WHAT YOU’RE DOING BACK THERE. IF I SEE YOU DO IT AGAIN, I’M GONNA KICK YOU OFF THE BUS AND MAKE YOU TAKE THE NEXT ONE.”

I’m quiet for a few seconds because I’m so confused; I was just sitting there, texting, looking around and minding my own business, trying to get to work. I reply “Ma’am, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” and she replies “Oh, that’s what they’re supposed to say.” I say “No really, I legitimately have no idea what’s going on, can you please tell me what you think I did?” and she refused to tell me.

We then reach McCutchenson and Seltzer, and after turning, she stops the bus, opens the doors, and is silent for several minutes, as if passively aggressively suggesting I get off. She then starts speaking into her walkie talkie and describing my appearance to get a supervisor to come. I and the other person on the bus were attempting to get her to explain why she stopped bus, but she wouldn’t give either of us an explanation. What made it weirder was before that, she passive aggressively asked us what time we had to be at work, claiming “I don’t want to make anyone late,” which was a boldfaced lie, as I was made 20 minutes late for absolutely no reason.

When the police finally showed up, they were just as baffled as everyone else. She was literally just pacing in circles in the grass refusing to talk to people. The only question the cops really asked was “Did you have something like an Aerosol can that confused her?” And that was it.

I honestly do believe that I was kicked off the bus because I had makeup on. I noticed her “I <3 Jesus” lanyard and I strongly suspect the reason she was being so vague is because she knew was committing a hate crime, but had no way of justifying it. I even said “I’m sorry if there’s something happening in your life that’s causing you to have a bad day, but I need to get to work” and she straight up said “there’s nothing going on in my life that’s bad” super calmly, as if to fuck with me. This woman is vile and disgusting, and she has no business working for COTA, or anywhere for that matter.

(in short, the Police did nothing and the Supervisor drove us to work. Bless him.)

Watch Purdom’s video:

The Columbus Dispatch reported on the incident and published surveillance video which backs up Purdom’s claims:

The Dispatch reports:

Minutes before the driver stops the bus, according to the security video, she appears to speak to Purdom for the first time: “If you keep doing what you’re doing, I’m going to have to ask you to get off. I’m uncomfortable with you on here.”

Purdom looks up from his phone and asks what he’s doing wrong. But the driver won’t specify. The driver at one point says it isn’t the first time that Purdom has “done it.”

“I’m not going to accept you being on the bus and assault me,” she says. “And then sit there like you’re doing nothing, but my body knows you’re doing something.”

Purdom said he felt threatened by the driver.

“She was really terrifying,” he told The Dispatch. “I didn’t figure that it might be a discriminatory thing until someone pointed out her ‘I love Jesus’ lanyard. I was wearing visible makeup. I can only jump to conclusions because she wouldn’t give me an explanation.”

COTA says it is investigating:

We understand questions and concerns have risen involving an incident that occurred on Line #83 on June 2.

A passenger has stated that he believes Thursday’s disrupted service was a result of the COTA driver’s discrimination based upon his sexual orientation.

Please know we take this allegation very seriously and our policy strictly prohibits discrimination of any kind.

We are reviewing all available information to have a full understanding of the incident. After we gather the facts, we will share additional information with the public and take appropriate action. Thank you.

The post Ohio Man: I Was Kicked Off a Bus for ‘Being Gay’ – WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.

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As a Sanders Supporter I’m Now Endorsing Hillary Clinton for President: David Mixner

MIXNER’S 2016 ELECTION CENTRAL —

In 1960, I handed out brochures and bumper stickers for President John F. Kennedy. At the age of fourteen, I deeply believed that his election was essential for the world to survive. The nuclear shadow hung over my generation with open air nuclear tests being conducted and nuclear bomb shelters being built. Since then, I have participated in fifteen presidential elections. Some of my candidates won and some lost. In addition, either inside or outside the convention hall, I have attended ten national conventions and played major roles in at least five of them.

This year I backed Senator Bernie Sanders, feeling strongly that his candidacy best represented my values, principles and ideology. I am proud of him and the issues he championed throughout this race. In fact, I consider myself a ‘major donor’ for Sanders since I sent $37 a month! For years to come in our Democratic Party, Sanders will have instilled a renewed sense of populism and party reform. In addition, his campaign has once again mobilized our young to fight for a better world. There is simply no better gift than that to our nation.

As Democrats, we can be particularly proud of how we conducted our campaign this year. Yes, at times there have been intense and passionate exchanges both between the candidates and their supporters. However, those exchanges have for the most part not involved personal insults, hateful rhetoric and name calling. In most cases, there has been a thoughtful discussion on the issues, the future of the Democratic Party and American values. Our debates have been substantive and serious.

This is a sharp contrast with the ship of fools in the Republican Party who have precipitated one shameful episode after another.

By any measure, Hillary Clinton has won the Democratic nomination for President. Ms. Clinton has won the most votes, the most delegates and yes, the most delegates without the superdelegates. She has campaigned long and hard. Ms. Clinton has been a champion of important Democratic values and principles. While I have had my differences with her on a number of issues I have never viewed her as anything other than a progressive. She has earned our support.

That is why as a key Sanders supporter I am offering my full and unqualified endorsement of Hillary Clinton for President.

Why shouldn’t I wait until the Convention is over before making my endorsement? There is an easy answer and his name is Donald Trump.

In all my 16 elections, never has there been a candidate that so threatens our American ideas, our Constitution and even the basis of a free and democratic country. He is a dangerous demagogue who has embraced racism, misogyny, homophobia and xenophobia. The very idea that his hand could be on the nuclear button terrifies me. I can’t even begin to imagine a world where Trump is in charge of our foreign policy, feeding the poor, sheltering the homeless, protecting our children and saving our environment from the rising seas. His election would leave us one short step away from a dictatorship.

Such danger cannot and should not be ignored.

Sanders supporters, like myself, have given it our best. We have brought great change. Because we have shown how much we love and care for this planet and the people on it, we cannot play Russian Roulette for political reasons. We must now put our differences behind us and defeat this evil man and elect a qualified, experienced and talented woman to the Presidency of the United States.

If that logic doesn’t appeal to you, how about Donald Trump appointing three Supreme Court justices? Need I remind you that this institution brought an end to segregation in our schools, ruled in favor of marriage equality and has protected free speech time and time again? Yes, there have been some decisions with which I have disagreed, especially the Citizen’s United case. However, do you in any sense of the world see a SCOTUS dominated by Trump making decisions that will improve the lot of minorities in America and protect our civil liberties?

So the time comes for us to unite and fight hard for America’s future. Actually, we are fighting to save our country from losing everything that is wonderful about it.

Ms. Clinton also must also work hard over the next months to bring us together. Our Democratic Convention must be fair and open. She must be willing to enter into dialogue over the platform and support the elimination of the hated superdelegates at future conventions. I am sure she understands what leadership is required of her at this historic moment.

My fellow Sanders supporters, our work is just beginning and not ending. I will fight by your side as long as I have air in my lungs. We have a deep moral obligation to the poor, the powerless and the planet to make sure Donald Trump is sent packing. Then we can turn our attention once more to the future of our Party, our country and the citizens of this endangered world. Please join me in uniting for a greater good than our own righteousness, and work day and night to elect Hillary Clinton President of the United States.

All opinions expressed are those of the author.

The post As a Sanders Supporter I’m Now Endorsing Hillary Clinton for President: David Mixner appeared first on Towleroad.

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23 Entertainers Who Protested North Carolina's Anti-LGBT Hate

www.advocate.com/music/2016/6/08/23-entertainers-who-protested-north-carolinas-anti-lgbt-hate

PHOTOS: San Francisco Pride, Then and Now

www.advocate.com/pride/2016/6/08/photos-san-francisco-pride-then-and-now

Why the Supreme Court Can’t Save Us From 'Religious Liberty'

The legal rock stars who helped secure the freedom to marry aren’t so sure the same strategy works for “religious liberty.”

www.advocate.com/politics/2016/6/08/why-supreme-court-cant-save-us-religious-liberty