Star Wars Superfan Petitions Franchise to Dedicate LGBT Character to Orlando Victim – WATCH

A Star Wars superfan whose best friend was murdered in the Orlando massacre is petitioning the powers that be behind the sci-fi films to dedicate an LGBT character in memory of his friend and all who lost their lives at Pulse. That character would be the first openly LGBT character in the Star Wars universe.

As we previously reports, Drew Leinonen was gunned down at Pulse with his boyfriend Juan Ramon Guerrero. The couple, who friends and family said wanted to get married, were buried together after the tragedy.

Drew’s best friend Joshua Yehl (right) came up with the idea to petition Kathleen Kennedy, the President of Lucasfilm, and Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, to dedicate a character to Drew and LGBT people who have lost their lives to hate on his way back from Drew’s funeral.

Yehl says that both he and Leinonen were Star Wars superfans. He writes, “[Drew] and I bonded over many things, but nothing brought us together like Star Wars. To be honest, we were actually pretty unbearable to be around when we got to talking about that galaxy far, far away.”

Yehl adds that he will leave it up to the creative team as to how exactly to honor Leinonen’s memory, whether it’s “using his likeness, running his name through one of those Star Wars Name Generators” or something else.

Via The Guardian: 

Yehl also quotes Star Wars: The Force Awakens director JJ Abrams on the subject – “The fun of Star Wars is the glory of possibility. So it seems insanely narrow-minded and counterintuitive to say that there wouldn’t be a homosexual character in that world” – and suggests that as the franchise has made efforts to include female and African American characters, the introduction of an LGBT character would be a beneficial act.

“This is a universe with Wookies, Jawas, and Hutts, so why can’t there be a visible LGBT character on screen? … It’s vitally important that LGBT people are included in mainstream media because it will show that we don’t need to be feared or hated or hidden. We can be part of the rebellion and we can fight evil, and we can do it while being who we are with pride.”

Of the significance such a move would have, Yehl says, “Nothing would make [Drew] happier than for all the little gay nerds out there to have their own Star Wars character to look up to.”

Yehl encourages supporters to use the hashtag #PutDrewInStarWars to voice their support.

As of this posting, the petition has over 2,400 signatures.

You can sign the petition HERE.

Watch Yehl’s video appealing to the Star Wars creative team, below.

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Bill Donohue Has a Meltdown on CNN Over The Pope’s Remarks on Gays: WATCH

Chris Cuomo invited Catholic League mouthpiece Bill Donohue on CNN’s New Day for a reaction to The Pope’s remarks that the Catholic Church should apologize to and seek forgiveness from gay people and Cuomo got the meltdown he expected.

Donohue and his Catholic League (once accurately described by Kathy Griffin as “a man behind a computer”) have a history of demonizing gay people, so his reaction was predictable when Cuomo asked, “Do you feel like apologizing to the LGBT community?”

“No,” screeched Donohue. “As a matter of fact, I want an apology from gays! I’ve been assaulted by gays. I’ve never assaulted a gay person in my entire life!”

RELATED: Pope Francis: Catholic Church Should Apologize to Gays and Seek Forgiveness

“Why is it so important to you to denounce gays?”, asked Cuomo bringing up Donohue’s multiple appearances on the show whenever an LGBT event makes news. Donohue claimed that it was Cuomo’s producers begging him to be on.

Donohue then claimed that when he was in the military he defended gays who were being bullied, “because I don’t care what gay people do.”

He then added:

“I don’t want to have a lifestyle thrusted in my face though!”

“What do you mean thrusted in your face, asked Cuomo. “How are they putting their gay on you?”

Donohue then dove into an argument that religious people should be allowed to discriminate against gays.

Cuomo responded by bringing up the Pope’s remarks that gay people shouldn’t be judged, which really sent Donohue over the edge,

“He has said that gay marriage is the work of the devil. He has said that gender ideology – you know, the trans, the trans people? He says that gender ideology is demonic. That is the Pope that I like!”

Watch:

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Where Things Stand in North Carolina

On March 23, North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory signed into law HB2 – an outrageous and unprecedented anti-LGBTQ law. Since then HRC has been on the ground, working with advocates, allies, small business owners, parents, students and even ultimate Frisbee players to help repeal the discriminatory law. We’ve planned rallies, gone door-to-door, tabled at concerts, held daily phone banks, led lobby days, hosted weekends of action and much more.

In addition to these efforts on the ground, more than 35 performers have spoken out or cancelled shows in North Carolina since Gov. McCrory signed the bill into law. More than 200 major CEOs and business leaders spoke out, also urging the governor and legislative leadership to repeal HB2. Major film studios and corporations, from PayPal to Deutsche Bank, have stopped investments in the state because of the new law’s threat to employees and consumers. Conventions have withdrawn from the state, taking substantial revenue with them, and the Charlotte Chamber said in May that HB2 has cost the Mecklenburg area alone $285 million and 1,300 jobs.  

A recent poll found that HB2 continues to be unpopular with North Carolinians.  According to Public Policy Polling, only 28 percent of voters think HB2 is helping the Tar Heel State, compared to 52 percent who think it’s hurting the state.

With only a handful of days left in the North Carolina General Assembly’s Short Session, HRC is working with Turn OUT! North Carolina (NC), a project of HRC, Equality NC, ACLU of North Carolina and the Campaign for Southern Equality, to mobilize thousands of folks across North Carolina to demand that North Carolina’s hateful HB2 be repealed in full.

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].

Don’t live in North Carolina? Take action today and tell Gov. McCrory and legislativeleadership to repeal HB2.

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Gay Republican Trump Supporters Announce ‘Shootback’ Cocktail Party at GOP Convention

Chris Barron and his LGBT for Trump group are holding a ‘#Shootback” cocktail party on July 19 at a location still unannounced at the Republican National Convention.

Writes the group:

#ShootBack is a party taking place during the GOP Convention. Organized by a coalition of gay Republicans who — like all Americans — were shaken by the tragic massacre in Orlando, our vision is to bring together the GOP community in a show of unity through defiance (and cocktails!) in support of Donald Trump.

So far there’s little interest.

The invite includes a mock-up of the rainbow-colored Gadsden flag which was featured on stickers plastered all over West Hollywood following the Orlando massacre.

GOProud founder Chris Barron launched the group last week before he was handily humiliated on CNN.

(h/t jmg)

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Rachel Maddow Examines the Very Real Possibility of a Clinton-Warren Ticket: WATCH

Many people pointed out yesterday that Elizabeth Warren’s appearance at Hillary Clinton’s rally in Cincinnati did not look like any ordinary rally, and Rachel Maddow took a long analysis of the event, and of the traditional process in trotting out a running mate.

Maddow noted the four ingredients typically seen by a candidate who’s putting themselves out there as the VP pick:

Number one, you have to show up, put yourself out there on behalf of the campaign, show that you are willing to do the work.

Number two, you have to clap right next to the microphone, you have to be a whole-hearted, enthusiastic, unreserved, not just an endorser, but an enthusiast for your party’s nominee. You need to sing their song.

Number three, you have to show a robust appetite for the jugular of the other party’s nominee.

…Finally, get in a very large room and blow the lid off.

Watch:

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Seattle Transgender Man Attacked Following Orlando Massacre Fundraiser: VIDEO

Seattle police are investigating an attack on a transgender man who was beaten last Wednesday evening after leaving a fundraiser for victims of the Orlando massacre.

Victim Michael Volz was attacked at around 11.30pm near 11th Avenue and East Pike Street.

The attacker approached Volz, and said “Hey, happy Pride” before punching him in the face. Volz was then grabbed by the throat and a transgender slur was used. Volz lost consciousness but was later able to drive home and contact a friend, who drove him to hospital.

Volz appeared at a media conference Friday prior to the 2016 Trans* Pride march. He said “This is not an isolated incident, this is something that happens to our community frequently and we’re not going to take it anymore.”

help find attacker of #MichaelVolz #DisarmHate #StopHate #Transphobia #LGBTQ #NeverTrump #trans t.co/CfesBckcNC

— Jeremy Greene (@rodney24jones1) June 28, 2016

He was joined by trans activist Danni Askini,founder of the Gender Justice League, who added:

“All of us are in shock and fearful. Part of our efforts to do things like Trans Pride Seattle is to create community and solidarity so that people do not feel isolated.”

According to SPD Blotter, the suspect is a white male in his 20s, with brown hair and a partial beard. He was wearing an orange or copper-colored sweatshirt, blue jeans, and sandals.

Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole said:

“I’m disgusted by this hateful attack. I want to assure the victim and the community that the SPD will leverage every resource to identify the suspect and bring him to justice.”

The FBI has offered its assistance to Seattle Police Department (SPD) Violent Crimes detectives. An SPD victim advocate has also been in contact with Volz to provide support. Anyone with information can call the SPD Violent Crimes tip line at (206)233-5000.

A GoFundMe campaign to support Volz with medical costs has so far raised close to $37,000. Any surplus will be donated to The NW Network and Gender Justice League.

Watch Volz speak about the attack below.

(Images via GoFundMe)

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The 2016 Anti-LGBT March For Marriage Was A Complete Flop

Rachel Cain, Celisa Calacal, Sydney Pereira, and Evan Popp are interns at ThinkProgress.

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LGBTQ Pride Month Culminates with Stonewall Anniversary

As LGBTQ Pride Month comes to a close, HRC recognizes another momentous day in LGBTQ history: the anniversaries of the uprising at Stonewall in 1969 and the first pride parade in 1970.

Today’s anniversary is all the more special because Christopher Park- the home of the famous Stonewall Inn- was recognized yesterday as America’s first-ever national LGBTQ monument.

On June 28, 1969 the uprising at The Stonewall Inn, a local bar, in New York City was a pivotal marker in beginning of the LGBTQ rights movement in the U.S. Harassed by local police simply for congregating, LGBTQ patrons decided to take a stand and fight back against the brutal intimidation they regularly faced.  By refusing to resign themselves to the shadows of that bar or of American society, these early pioneers helped birth a movement to eradicate discrimination against all LGBTQ Americans. The events of those nights helped inspire a social awakening for many in the LGBTQ community and had a profound effect on the nation’s perception of LGBTQ people. The following year on June 28, the first gay pride marches took place in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles to commemorate the anniversary of this brave stand against injustice.

Throughout the course of American history, there have been a number of events that have shaped the U.S. as we know it, and the uprising at Stonewall Inn and Christopher Park are now an official part of that national history. Prior to 1969, there were no LGBTQ pride parades, and few well-known examples of people living open, authentic lives. Those brave acts at Stonewall — one of several acts of resistance by early LGBTQ advocates — helped spark a revolution in the LGBTQ equality movement.

More than 45 years later, pride events are held nationwide in cities big and small – from San Francisco to Omaha and New York to Sioux Falls, members of the LGBTQ community and their allies gather at festivals and parades to celebrate the progress we’ve made, but also to recognize the distance we still have to go to achieve full equality.

White House Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, Senators Tammy Baldwin and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and others gathered outside of The Stonewall Inn for the dedication ceremony yesterday.

“It is our hope that by honoring these pioneers, this new national monument will be a source of inspiration to a new generation of Americans across the country standing up for equality and uniting to show the world that love conquers hate,” HRC President Chad Griffin said. “We are incredibly grateful for President Obama’s leadership in recognizing the LGBTQ community’s contributions to our nation’s march towards liberty and justice for all.”

As we reflect upon our movement, especially after the Orlando massacre earlier this month, we know that the there is more work to do to advance LGBTQ equality around the globe. We will work to advance the ideals of what happened at Stonewall sparked that night in 1969, bringing us together collectively as a community and as Americans to move equality forward.

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