Istanbul, Kanye West, Gay Sauna, Hillary Clinton, Nate Silver, Mac ‘N Cheetos: NEWS

Istanbul, Kanye West, Gay Sauna, Hillary Clinton, Nate Silver, Mac ‘N Cheetos: NEWS

CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS. Here’s why you don’t want Donald Trump controlling America’s nuclear arsenal.

CLEVELAND. Anxiety mounts over security for GOP convention.

PREDICTIONS. Nate Silver gives Hillary Clinton 79 percent chance of winning. “We’re at halftime of the election right now,” Silver said. “She’s taking a seven-point, maybe a ten-point lead into half time. There’s a lot of football left to be played. She’s ahead in almost every poll, every swing state, every national poll.”

DEM CONVENTION. Lady Gaga to perform.

Lady Gaga is set to perform for Hillary Clinton and DNC attendees in Philadelphia on July 28. pic.twitter.com/UQnVNqwiML

— Lady Gaga Now (@LadyGagaNowNet) June 29, 2016

MILLENNIALS. Clinton holds Town Hall with digital stars, asked about cyberbullying, revenge porn. “Some of you have kept people alive, because you have been able to communicate with a person who was bullied,” Clinton said. “Or a young person who was struggling with their sexuality and feeling all alone. Andyou were able to give that person a sense of survival. And a feeling they weren’t by themselves.”

turkeyISTANBUL. Death toll climbs to 41 in Ataturk Airport terrorist attack: “Istanbul’s governor said Wednesday that the death toll had climbed to 41 — including at least 10 foreigners and 3 dual nationals. More than 230 were injured though 109 have already been released from hospitals, the governor added in a statement…There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which plunged Turkey into a state of national mourning. The country is grappling with a number of enemies domestically and abroad — but Yildirim said it appeared ISIS was to blame.”

OUSTED. Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski loses $1.2 million book deal: “Corey Lewandowski had a $1.2-million offer from HarperCollins to write a book chronicling his time running Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, but the publishing giant backed away from the deal amid concerns about Lewandowski’s nondisclosure agreement, according to two sources familiar with the talks.”

MANCHESTER, UK. Man found dead in gay sauna had multiple identities.

MichiganMICHIGAN. Portage approves LGBT nondiscrimination ordinance: “By a 6-1 vote, the council passed the ordinance just before 11 p.m. Tuesday night. Dozens showed up at Portage City Hall to speak up during the public hearing. A mix of supporters and opponents voiced their opinions in what has turned out to be a passionate hearing. The ordinance was proposed by the Human Services Board, and geared to protect LGBTQ individuals from discrimination in housing, employment and public services–something supporters say was long overdue.”

Texarkana ordinanceARKANSAS. Texarkana votes to repeal LGBT nondiscrimination ordinance: ” 3,409 votes were cast to repeal … 881 for it to remain.”  HRC: “The ordinance, which had passed the Texarkana Board of Directors by a unanimous vote early this year with broad-based support from citizens and the business community, was targeted by an onslaught of negative, deceptive rhetoric from extremists with no ties to Texarkana, and who have targeted similar protections across the state.”

LONDON. Man accused of murdering gay policeman and chopping up body appears in court. “Social worker Stefano Brizzi, 50, is charged with the the murder of 59-year-old PC Gordon Semple after he disappeared while on duty.”

IrelandNORTHERN IRELAND. Survey shows 70 percent support same-sex marriage: “It is clear that the people of Northern Ireland agree with us that marriage equality is one of the defining civil rights issues of our time and that it should immediately be made law. Those who continue to prevent marriage equality in Northern Ireland are not going to succeed. All they are doing before its inevitable introduction are merely enacting an injustice against their own citizens and worsening Northern Ireland’s already abysmal reputation regarding LGBT rights.”

CANADA. Ontario expands HPV vaccine to gay and bisexual men.

PAKISTAN. Transgender community accepts marriage fatwa. “It said that according to Islam transgender people with “visible signs” of being male or female may marry someone of the opposite sex. But those with “visible signs of both genders” may not marry, it said. The 50 clerics, part of the little-known Tanzeem Ittehad-i-Ummat body based in Lahore, also said any act intended to “humiliate, insult or tease” transgender individuals should be considered a crime under Islam.”

SNEAKERS. Adidas and Kanye West announce deal. “The line will use Kanye’s pioneering creativity to launch a new range of YEEZY branded footwear, apparel and accessories for all genders. The expansion will look beyond its current lifestyle focus to introduce performance-specific designs, offering up options that are suitable for both sport and street. adidas say it will redefine its future, uniting adidas’ technical, innovative expertise and capabilities with the visionary imagination of West.”

Instagram Photo

 

EAT IT. James St. James and World of Wonder folks eat Mac ‘N Cheetos.

HUMP DAY HOTTIE. Matt Cook Jr.

Instagram Photo

 

Instagram Photo

 

Instagram Photo

 

Instagram Photo

The post Istanbul, Kanye West, Gay Sauna, Hillary Clinton, Nate Silver, Mac ‘N Cheetos: NEWS appeared first on Towleroad.



feeds.towleroad.com/~r/towleroad/feed/~3/ixZjnW0Wlpg/

Texas Attorney General Wants Schools To Out Transgender Students To Their Parents

Texas Attorney General Wants Schools To Out Transgender Students To Their Parents

Ken Paxton (R) argues that trans students who feel safe being open at school shouldn’t expect their identities to be kept private from their families.

The post Texas Attorney General Wants Schools To Out Transgender Students To Their Parents appeared first on ThinkProgress.

thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2016/06/29/3794051/texas-transgender-policy-paxton/

Methodists Aren’t Allowed To Have Gay Bishops. They’re Nominating These Three LGBT People Anyway.

Methodists Aren’t Allowed To Have Gay Bishops. They’re Nominating These Three LGBT People Anyway.

“I expect to see a gay bishop or two installed in the United Methodist Church.”

The post Methodists Aren’t Allowed To Have Gay Bishops. They’re Nominating These Three LGBT People Anyway. appeared first on ThinkProgress.

thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2016/06/29/3794223/umc-gay-bishops/

EXCLUSIVE: More Out Celebs Share Their First Gay Bar Experiences

EXCLUSIVE: More Out Celebs Share Their First Gay Bar Experiences

XX9_9874

The Boy Bar, Splash, Rage — oh, the wonderful world of gay bar names. These three in particular happen to be the scenes of three celebrities’ very first gay bar experiences.

And you never forget your first. When you’re jaded, a bar’s sticky floor might be the feature you remember most, but walking into a gay bar for the first time is a rite of passage, usually marked with conflicting emotions of anxiety, liberation, excitement and perhaps nausea.

Related: Queer Celebs Reveal Their First Gay Bar Experience; So Many Fake I.D.’s

For instance, Andy Cohen‘s first bar for dudes who like dudes was Chaps in Boston. Don Lemon’s was the Bengal in Baton Rouge. Who knew?!

When Queerty’s Rob Smith was on the red carpet at Logo’s Trailblazers Honors last weekend, he didn’t pass up the opportunity to ask some of the celebrities walking the red carpet about their entry point into the world of gay bars.

Watch below to hear what Carson Kressley, Alex Newell, Candis Cayne, Omar Sharif, Jr., Michael Musto, Joel Grey, and Harvey Fierstein had to say:

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/2bsvkw2JF8s/exclusive-celebs-share-first-gay-bar-experiences-20160629

Petition Asks “Star Wars” Producers To Immortalize Orlando Vicim

Petition Asks “Star Wars” Producers To Immortalize Orlando Vicim

Screen Shot 2016-06-28 at 2.11.22 PM

“This is a universe with Wookies, Jawas, and Hutts, so why can’t there be a visible LGBT character on screen?”

That sentence is culled from a new petition asking Star Wars producers to honor Orlando victim Christopher “Drew” Leinonen in an upcoming installment of the franchise.

Related: Star Wars Films Will Soon Have Gay Characters, According To J.J. Abrams

Joshua Yehl was a close friend of the victim, and first had the idea while driving away from Leinonen’s funeral ceremony.

“Nothing would make him happier than for all the little gay nerds out there to have their own Star Wars character to look up,” he writes in a letter accompanying the petition.

Related: What If The Next “Star Wars” Movie Took Place In A Seedy Gay Bar?

Christopher and Josh cemented their friendship by gleefully dorking out on Star Wars minutiae.

The letter is addressed to Kathleen Kennedy (current president of Lucasfilm), Bob Igor (The Walt Disney Company’s CEO) and “all those behind the Star Wars films.”

So far, the petition has garnered 2,134 signatures and is receiving a dizzying amount of praise on Twitter through the hashtag #PutDrewInStarWars

The letter continues:

This character will not only honor Drew, but all of the other victims at Pulse in Orlando, including his boyfriend Juan Ramon Guerrero, and every LGBT person to ever lose their life to hate.”

I’ve never met @JoshuaYehl but I’m pretty sure I want to fight anyone who has a problem with the #PutDrewInStarWars campaign

— Derek Stauffer (@TheComfortador) June 28, 2016

“Leinonen Drew” would make a GREAT Star Wars character name! #PutDrewInStarWars t.co/IdaQGGCHbT

— Jenny Jaffe (@jennyjaffe) June 28, 2016

Star Wars is all about hope. The time is now. @Disney, #PutDrewInStarWars and May the Force be with You!!! t.co/9TIiPnbJep

— Hector Navarro (@Hectorisfunny) June 27, 2016

“Now is the time to act.” #PutDrewInStarWars t.co/nWKBUZJ8s5

— Crystal Bell (@crystalbell) June 27, 2016

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/llxHae28Qtg/petition-asks-star-wars-producers-immortalize-orlando-vicim-20160629

This Gay Man Just Gave the Performance of the Season on ‘America’s Got Talent’: WATCH

This Gay Man Just Gave the Performance of the Season on ‘America’s Got Talent’: WATCH

Brian Justin Crum

Brian Justin Crum just got four huge “yeses” on America’s Got Talent after delivering a rendition of Queen’s “Somebody to Love” which brought the audience to their feet. Crum is a gay man who told a touching story of being bullied as a kid and the support he got from his mom before singing the track. The judges were touched too.

Said Howie Mandell: “I think tonight you found everybody to love you.”

Said Mel B: “If I wasn’t married and you weren’t straight we would be in love.”

Said Heidi Klum: “I just love that you just showed all those people who bullied you.”

Said Simon Cowell: “I’m guessing that’s one of the biggest performances you’ve ever given…and the truth is you are a fantastic singer.”

Watch:

Crum left a message on Facebook last night:

 

The post This Gay Man Just Gave the Performance of the Season on ‘America’s Got Talent’: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.



feeds.towleroad.com/~r/towleroad/feed/~3/tEeD2sZJk3w/

#HeterosexualPrideDay Trends on Twitter and Twitter Responds

#HeterosexualPrideDay Trends on Twitter and Twitter Responds

#HeterosexualPrideDay is trending on Twitter because some bigot thinks straight people are left out.

Really? #HeterosexualPrideDay What’s next, #BreathingAirDay ?

— Snapchat: Dapper29 (@dapperlaughs) June 29, 2016

Sadly, many still don’t get this. #HeterosexualPrideDay #LGBT #LGBTQ #LGBTI #Gay pic.twitter.com/4AeTsZAZFU

— John Sinopoli (@TheJohnSinopoli) June 29, 2016

It’s #HeterosexualPrideDay, the day I can go out into the street and just be myself without fear of abuse! Also known as ‘Wednesday’.

— Unnamed Insider (@Unnamedinsider) June 29, 2016

Can we just wrap all these white/straight/rich pride movements up into one “I’m Sad When Things Aren’t About Me” day? #HeterosexualPrideDay

— (((Nash))) (@Nash076) June 29, 2016

#HeterosexualPrideDay all my love to the fellow straights, must be really tough not facing any oppression and never having to come out x

— gabriella (@disco2thousand) June 29, 2016

#HeterosexualPrideDay WOW I’m so happy straights can get married, donate blood, and not murdered. It must be hard dealing with oppression

— Maddy (@MaddyBooth3) June 29, 2016

The dates for #HeterosexualPrideDay 2017 have been announced!

It starts on Jan 1st and runs until December 31st. pic.twitter.com/PdLfq4jWkJ

— Richard Harris (@cigarboyrick82) June 29, 2016

#HeterosexualPrideDay because every straight child worries about being rejected by family and friends for being heterosexual

— David of York (@Davecarr86) June 29, 2016

This hashtag is like having a White History Month… #HeterosexualPrideDay pic.twitter.com/AlSr6xKRWc

— Amy☄ (@Real_Amy_Jones) June 29, 2016

Wow, look at this amazing shot from the Heterosexual Pride Parade this year! #HeterosexualPrideDay pic.twitter.com/Hlji9zG1Rm

— april lavalle (@imatoofbrush) June 29, 2016

The post #HeterosexualPrideDay Trends on Twitter and Twitter Responds appeared first on Towleroad.



feeds.towleroad.com/~r/towleroad/feed/~3/1Bkp77cq54k/

Calum McSwiggan, Friends, React to Sheriff’s Reports: ‘Staying Silent Here is Killing Us’

Calum McSwiggan, Friends, React to Sheriff’s Reports: ‘Staying Silent Here is Killing Us’

calum mcswiggan

YouTuber Calum McSwiggan and friends who posted in support of his claims he was attacked in an anti-gay hate crime tweeted last night after the L.A. County Sheriffs Department (LACSD) said McSwiggan had been arrested for vandalism and been observed trying to harm himself inside a jail cell.

Said the LACSD in its statement,

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has an affirmative duty to fully investigate all assaults and reports of violence in our community.  Deputies from West Hollywood Station responded to and investigated the report by Calum McSwiggan that he was assaulted by three males after leaving a local nightclub early Monday morning.  Responding deputies were unable to substantiate the assault.  Mr. McSwiggan, who had no visible injuries, was subsequently arrested after deputies observed him vandalizing a car in the 8900 block of Santa Monica Boulevard.  After being booked and photographed, Mr. McSwiggan was placed into a cell by himself at West Hollywood Station.  Mr. McSwiggan was then observed injuring himself with the handle and receiver to a payphone inside the cell.  Medical personnel were summoned and Mr. McSwiggan was transported to a local hospital for treatment.  Mr. McSwiggan’s booking photo was taken prior to deputies seeing Mr. McSwiggan injuring himself.  That booking photo is attached [above].

McSwiggan said, in a social media post earlier, McSwiggan had written: “With three broken teeth and six stitches in my forehead, I’ve never felt so terrified to be a gay man in the public eye…The authorities should have been there to help and protect me but instead they treated me like a second class citizen.”

McSwiggan and friends tweeted after the sheriff’s statement came out that they had a court date and had been advised not to speak:

I’ve been told to say nothing before court tomorrow but staying silent here is killing us. If you’re a friend just DM me for the truth.

— Calum McSwiggan (@CalumMcSwiggan) June 29, 2016

I’m not commenting until tomorrow when we know more and can legally speak. I saw Cal screaming crying after the attack. He didn’t fake it

— Riyadh Khalaf (@RiyadhK) June 29, 2016

None of us have spoken fully yet about yesterday’s events/@CalumMcSwiggan‘s attack & the aftermath, so please don’t form opinions til then x

— Melanie Murphy (@melaniietweets) June 29, 2016

Check back to Towleroad for updates on this story.

The post Calum McSwiggan, Friends, React to Sheriff’s Reports: ‘Staying Silent Here is Killing Us’ appeared first on Towleroad.



feeds.towleroad.com/~r/towleroad/feed/~3/qtbPPV3TLEc/