Department of Interior Celebrates Pride Month With Video Saluting LGBTQ Americans

This week in celebration of Pride Month, the U.S. Department of Interior released a video saluting LGBTQ Americans, and encouraged all to explore the wonders of our national parks and historic places.

The 411 national parks, monuments, battlefields, military parks, historical parks, historic sites, lakeshores, seashores, recreation areas, scenic rivers and trails which comprise the park system are varied as the nation’s population. These sites and their stories, woven together tell the story of our nation’s heritage. To ensure that all Americans had the opportunity to learn about our community’s contribution to that story, the National Park Service (NPS) launched the LGBTQ Heritage Initiative in 2014. In fact, two important sites are right here in Washington, DC, the residence of Dr. Franklin Kameny and the Furies Collective. 

Pride month is the perfect time to visit these places or one of the many other sites to learn more about our history and the pioneers for equality. In conjunction with its centennial celebration, the NPS has launched the ‘Find a Park’ Campaign to reacquaint Americans with the national parks. We encourage you to find one near you, and go explore.

www.hrc.org/blog/department-of-interior-celebrates-pride-month-with-video-saluting-lgbtq-ame?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Emails Reveal HB2 Author Compared LGBTQ Advocates to Taliban

New email documents obtained by the Charlotte Business Journal (CBJ), reveal that Rep. Dan Bishop, the lead author of North Carolina’s deeply discriminatory HB2 law, compared LGBTQ people and supporters of equality to the “Taliban” and made numerous other disparaging comments. The documents brought to light a slew of hateful exchanges which reveal the extent to which the lead author of HB2 was motivated by an express desire to discriminate against LGBTQ people at any cost — contrary to what Governor Pat McCrory and other lawmakers have said about the intent of the bill. Furthermore, the new documents were only partial accounts voluntarily released by Rep. Bishop himself, leaving it to speculation what in his other correspondence could be so much worse that he decided against releasing them.

Thus far, Gov. Pat McCrory, Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, and House Speaker Tim Moore have refused to release any of their communications about HB2 or their correspondence with anti-LGBT activists in the lead up to their sneak attack special session on March 23, during which they rammed through the disastrous HB 2 into law and signed it in less than 12 hours.

Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Equality NC called Bishop’s email correspondence “the tip of the iceberg” and renewed their call on McCrory, Berger, and Moore to comply with the law and release their records immediately.

“Rep. Bishop’s deep-seated hatred towards LGBTQ North Carolinians has blinded him to reality, so much so that he is is comparing people who support basic fairness and equality for LGBTQ people to the Taliban,” said JoDee Winterhof, HRC Senior Vice President for Policy and Political Affairs. “These documents are just the tip of the iceberg, and clearly demonstrate that the core goal of this legislation was to discriminate and attack the LGBTQ community. It’s unacceptable that McCrory, Berger, and Moore continue to evade their obligation to transparency, and it seems obvious that they are doing so to avoid the public seeing the despicable nature and motivation of this legislation.”

“As someone who grew up in Rep. Bishop’s district, it’s deeply disturbing to see such blatant animosity from someone who is supposed to represent all constituents in his district, including LGBTQ people,” said Matt Hirschy, Director of Advancement at Equality NC. “Based on these outrageous exchanges, it seems clear that pulling back the curtain on legislators’ true intent will reveal the despicable nature and motivation of this legislation. North Carolinians deserve to know what really motivated Gov. McCrory, Senator Berger, and Speaker Moore to ram through this disastrous legislation. They should immediately release their communications with anti-LGBTQ activists in their plot to pass HB2 into law.”

According to the documents, a supporter of Rep. Bishop emailed him telling him not to “cave in to the Politically Correct Taliban! Y’all should have all of the sane states to coordinate and pass these bills on the same day so one state does not have to stand up to these pompous asses alone.” Rep. Bishop replied, “I LOVE that idea. Taliban. Love that too. Not giving up. Ever.” The CBJ also revealed that “a separate exchange with another supporter included a declaration by the lawmaker that ‘the LGBT movement jeopardizes freedom.’”

Nearly two months have passed since HRC and Equality NC filed their own open records request seeking information from the office of Gov. McCrory, Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, and House Speaker Tim Moore regarding their communications with anti-LGBT activists to pass the disastrous HB 2 into law. Those requests have still gone unanswered, in violation of lawmakers’ obligation to respond in a timely fashion. HRC and Equality NC invoked the North Carolina Public Records Law to gain access to any communications the Governor, the Executive Branch, or the General Assembly had among each other or with the kind of extreme anti-LGBT special interest groups who often craft and push this language. Specifically, the organizations are demanding that the government release any communications legislators or the Governor or his staff have had with the so-called North Carolina Values Coalition or the Alliance Defending Freedom.

HB2 prevents transgender students in public schools from using restrooms and other facilities consistent with their gender identity. It also compels the same type of discrimination against transgender people to take place in publicly-owned buildings, including in public universities, major airports, and convention centers.  HB2 also eliminates existing municipal non-discrimination protections for LGBT people and prevents such protections from being passed by cities in the future.  Further, it revoked the ability to sue under state employment non-discrimination law on the basis of any protected characteristic, including race, religion, national origin, and sex.

www.hrc.org/blog/emails-reveal-hb2-author-compared-lgbtq-advocates-to-taliban?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Because Of COURSE Kylie Minogue Sings The ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ Theme In The Film. Listen Here.

Sweeties, darlings, Bernie bros and bisexuals — are you getting antsy for Patsy and Edina?! Because we are.

But before we can fully revel in our favorite alcoholics’ invasion of the big screen starting July 22 (July 1 in the UK), the people behind Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie are keeping our interest piqued in all the right ways.

Let’s be honest — they had us at the trailer, and even more so when we got a peek at all the cameos to expect. (Hello Joan Collins!)

Now it’s been announced that none other than Kylie Minogue has covered the show’s theme song for the film. Who else could it have been, really?

Just take our money already!

You can listen to the track “This Wheel’s On Fire,” originally written by some unknown named Bob Dylan, below:

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/Uo-st0T4h_g/course-kylie-minogue-sings-absolutely-fabulous-film-listen-20160610

Cyclist Rushing To Hookup Forcefully Arrested After Barrelling Into Obama’s Motorcade

Daniel Provencio was in a race to get to his hookup in New York yesterday and nothing was going to stop him. Not even President Obama’s motorcade.

OK, well, maybe President Obama’s motorcade.

Related: How Do You Know When A Hookup Is ‘The One’?

The 59-year-old bicyclist says he was blasting “Call Me Maybe” through his headphones when a group of NOPD officers suddenly tackled him to the ground. Unbeknownst to Provencio, he had just ridden into a secured area where the President was expected to pass through at any moment.

The Daily News reports:

A cop grabbed Provencio and knocked him off the bike onto the ground, then fell to the ground himself. A helmeted cop roughly grabbed Provencio’s arm and twisted it behind his back. Cops rolled Provencio over until he was face down, stuck a knee in his back and cuffed him as a Secret Service agent walked over to observe. Obama’s motorcade rolled past during the arrest. Provencio did not appear to be resisting during the encounter. He was issued a summons for disorderly conduct, police said.

Related: Late Night M4M Craigslist Hookup Ends With Dramatic Car Chase And An Arrest

To add insult to injury, the guy Provencio was supposed to hookup with lost interest because he was several hours late after being arrested and interrogated by the cops.

“Manhattan men are huge on punctuality,” he says.

See video of the dramatic arrest below…

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/Ag_QJD7eCTo/cyclist-rushing-hookup-forcefully-arrested-barrelling-obamas-motorcade-20160610

Gawker Files for Bankruptcy Following $140 Million Hulk Hogan Lawsuit

Gawker Media has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to protect the company’s assets after a judge issued a $140 million judgment against the company for its role in posting a sex tape showing former professional wrestler Hulk Hogan.

Hogan’s lawsuit was bankrolled by billionaire Peter Thiel who sought to topple Gawker and openly gay CEO Nick Denton. In 2007, Gawker outed Thiel as gay. Thiel has said his actions against Gawker were “less about revenge and more about specific deterrence.” He has also accused Gakwer of having “ruined people’s lives for no reason.”

Politico reports: 

In March, Hogan won a $140.1 million judgment against Gawker Media, CEO Nick Denton and former Gawker.com editor A.J. Daulerio. Following the trial, Gawker asked the presiding judge, Pamela Campbell, to either reduce the judgment or issue a routine stay to give them time to appeal the judgment. In May, Campbell upheld the full amount of the judgment. On Friday morning, she denied Gawker’s request for a stay.

In response, Gawker filed for Chapter 11, triggering a bankruptcy auction. POLITICO has learned that Ziff Davis, the owner of PC Mag, has agreed to an opening bid in the $90 million to $100 million range and other bids are expected.

Though it’s filing for bankruptcy, Gawker has no plans to cease its operations. The company will continue to operate as normal while the bankruptcy process proceeds and it appeals the Hogan judgment.

The post Gawker Files for Bankruptcy Following $140 Million Hulk Hogan Lawsuit appeared first on Towleroad.

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TX Congressman Louie Gohmert Air Quotes ‘Equality’ in Speech Attacking Transgender Troops – WATCH

Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert attacked transgender troops in a speech given at the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s annual conference in Washington, D.C. on Friday. Gohmert air quoted the word “equality” when referring to “transgender equality” and characterized sex reassignment surgery as something that destroys people’s lives.

Gohmert made his remarks in reference to the Obama administration’s policies on transgender service members.

What’s the @GOP think of LGBTQ rights? They use air quotes when saying the word “equality”. pic.twitter.com/DRrB3S47UP

— Tyler Evans (@tylerevansokay) June 10, 2016

Gohmert used the term ‘gender dysphoria’ to launch into his attack on transgender troops, which he couched as a defense of veterans:

“[Gender dysphoria is] a generalized sense of dissatisfaction [with one’s gender] and for that you want to cut off people’s organs and destroy people’s lives? Now this administration says, ‘We’re going to have the V.A. do sex change operations.’ Really?! Do we not have enough veterans committing suicide without you increasing that 20 times? Enough is enough! We have to stand up for our veterans. We’re the adults. We have to stand up for our children.”

Watch video of Gohmert air-quoting “equality” and denouncing transgender rights (via RWW), below.

The post TX Congressman Louie Gohmert Air Quotes ‘Equality’ in Speech Attacking Transgender Troops – WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.

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California’s Transgender Inmates Just Won Access To Items That Match Their Identity

Transgender inmates in California prisons now have greater access to female products they previously could not have.

The post California’s Transgender Inmates Just Won Access To Items That Match Their Identity appeared first on ThinkProgress.

thinkprogress.org/justice/2016/06/10/3787116/transgender-prisoner-commissary/

#AM_Equality Tip Sheet: June 10, 2016

POTUS IS WITH HER, AS HE HAS BEEN WITH US: President Obama formally endorsed Hillary Clinton on Thursday, the same day the administration held its final LGBTQ Pride reception at the White House. The president says he witnessed Clinton’s “commitment to our values up close” while she served as his Secretary of State, and expressed eagerness to begin campaigning for Clinton — their first joint stop is next week in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Meanwhile, LGBTQ activists, including  Jim Obergefell, the named plaintiff in the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 marriage equality ruling, and new Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning, the first openly-gay leader of a U.S. military service, gathered at the White House for the Pride Month event, celebrating historic LGBTQ equality gains during President Obama’s time in office.

• Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Elizabeth Warren also endorsed Clinton last night, highlighting her qualifications and pledging their help in stopping dangerous Donald Trump. Said Warren: “I’m ready to jump in this fight and make sure that Hillary Clinton is the next president of the United States and be sure that Donald Trump gets nowhere near the White House.”
• Drop the mic: After Trump predictably mocked President Obama’s endorsement of Clinton, she gave the presumptive GOP presidential nominee and serial social media harasser some much-needed advice:

DESPICABLE DONALD = DISASTROUS FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY: A few reminders about Despicable Donny: 1) He vows to roll back nationwide marriage equality. 2) He would sign a law sanctioning Kim Davis-style discrimination. 3) He supports North Carolina’s vile HB2 and would do nothing to address it. 4) He would repeal President Obama’s LGBTQ-inclusive executive orders. 5) The LGBTQ community includes women, immigrants, Muslims, people of color, people with disabilities, asylum seekers and many other groups Trump has maliciously attacked for political gain. And that’s just the start of it. HRC released a new video highlighting Trump’s hateful positions.

• Roll Call covered the disaster that would be Donald in a piece yesterday, while HRC President Chad Griffin tweeted out Trump’s dangerous anti-LGBTQ positions:

GREENSBORO, NC, MAYOR AND BUSINESSES DEMAND HB2 REPEAL: At a press conference yesterday in Greensboro, NC, the state’s third-largest city, Mayor Nancy Vaughan and prominent business owners called for the repeal of HB2. Since the heinous law was passed, the Greensboro Coliseum, a major source of revenue in the state, has taken an estimated $200,000 hit in lost business.  More from The Greensboro News and Record.

• NBA TV Analyst Charles Barkley says he’s considering boycotting the 2017 NBA All-Star Game if HB2 isn’t repealed, or if the game, currently scheduled to be held in Charlotte, isn’t moved out of NC. “I’ve talked to (NBA commissioner) Adam Silver; we need to move the All-Star Game. I hope they don’t put me in a situation where I have to boycott the All-Star Game,” said Barkley, a former NBA star. More from HRC.

STARBUCKS STANDS UP FOR EQUALITY AND TRANSGENDER RIGHTS: Starbucks, which has a perfect score on HRC Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index, is again taking the lead on equal treatment for the LGBTQ community. Lucy Helm, Starbucks EVP, recently sent a public letter to company employees explaining why it’s vital for the Fortune 500 Company to continue speaking out against discrimination, and reinforcing its long-term commitment to creating a welcoming space for all. Helm said that Starbucks opposes all discriminatory legislation, stressing that “In our stores, we continue to welcome partners and customers to use Starbucks facilities that correspond to their gender identity.” More from HRC.

MIAMI BEACH PROTECTS LGBTQ YOUTH FROM SO-CALLED “CONVERSION THERAPY”: On Wednesday, Miami Beach City Government voted to ban dangerous and debunked “conversion therapy” for minors, joining a growing number of jurisdictions protecting their LGBTQ youth from this quackery. Other jurisdictions with similar protections include Cincinnati, Washington D.C., California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon, New York and Vermont. More from The Miami Herald.

JUDGE REJECTS TRANSGENDER MAN’S NAME AS NOT “GENDER NEUTRAL” ENOUGH: Lambda Legal has asked the Georgia Court of Appeals to overturn a lower court judge’s denial of a transgender man’s legal name change. In a mind-boggling and discriminatory opinion, Superior Court Judge J. David Roper ruled that Rowan Elijah Feldhaus’ name was not “gender neutral” enough, asserting it could be “dangerous” if people can’t determine Feldhaus’ gender based on his name. Yes, that happened.

WILL THE INDIANA GOP SET A PRO- OR ANTI- EQUALITY AGENDA? Indiana Republicans are meeting this weekend to write their party’s platform for the next two years. The party has gone back-and-forth on its marriage equality platform position, opposing it in 2010, then removing any reference to it in 2012, and opposing it again in 2014. With marriage equality the law of the land, many in the state’s GOP are calling for a more inclusive, diverse party. More from The Journal Gazette.

READING RAINBOW

A contributor for The Washington Post shares best practices on how to be an LGBTQ ally; Variety points out the increasing number of transgender characters on television; Gay Star News looks at why terminally-ill LGBTQ people delay seeking health care; Teen Vogue introduces us to the first-ever transgender modeling agency; The Huffington Post reminds us that Donald Trump would be disastrous for the LGBTQ community; USA Today interviews HRC Youth Ambassador Jazz Jennings on LGBTQ representation in the media; NBC News makes the case for LGBTQ-inclusive education; Mother Jones asks why the census doesn’t collect data on gender identity or sexual orientation; The Sun Herald shares the story of a Mississippi teen who found the courage to live his truth; and Towleroad reports that the LGBTQ groups excluded from the UN Conference on AIDS held their own meeting in protest.

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!

www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-tip-sheet-june-10-2016?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Charles Barkley: Move the NBA All-Star Game If HB 2 Isn't Repealed

In an interview for the Dan Patrick Show, Barkley reiterated his support for the LGBT comminity.

www.advocate.com/sports/2016/6/10/charles-barkley-move-nba-all-star-game-if-hb-2-isnt-repealed