Do You Hate the Sound of Your Recorded Voice? Here’s Why.

Do you like the sound of your own voice?

If you are like most people, chances are you are not a big fan. That’s according to YouTube superstars Mitchell Moffit and Gregory Brown.

In their latest video, the Canadian couple, creator of the wildly popular YouTube channel AsapSCIENCE, invited a few people over for some vocal tests to try to find out why we hate our voices.

“People tend to strongly dislike their recorded voices because it sounds different than the voice in their head,” explained Brown. And that happens because of how sound travels to your ears.

The duo went into more scientific details as to how the human brain receives and processes sound, and also said that a 2013 study suggested that “even though you think your recorded voice sounds terrible, it might be more attractive than you think.”

Check out the full video below:

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ACLU, 70 Groups Demand House Cancel Hearing of Vile Anti-LGBT Bill 1 Month After Orlando

The ACLU and more than 70 national, state, and local groups sent a letter to Rep. Jason Chaffetz demanding that the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform cancel a hearing on the hateful anti-LGBT First Amendment Defense Act, scheduled to take place exactly one month after the Orlando shooting.

The bill, introduced by the two bigots pictured above, Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Idaho), left, and Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah). would make it legal to discriminate against LGBT people based on religious beliefs

RELATED: The ‘First Amendment Defense Act’ is the Vilest ‘Religious Freedom’ Bill of Our Time

Writes the ACLU:

“It’s outrageous that Congress would hold a hearing on legislation that would make it legal to discriminate against LGBT people with taxpayer dollars one month after the mass shooting that killed 49 people and injured 53 others at a gay club in Orlando,” said James Esseks, director of the ACLU’s Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender & HIV Project. “Congress should instead focus its efforts on protecting people against violence or discrimination, regardless of who they are or whom they love.”

The bill’s supporters argue that the singular intent of the bill is to prevent discrimination against “people and institutions that define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.” In practice, the ACLU said, the bill will permit sweeping taxpayer-funded discrimination. Based on a professed religious belief or even a legally ambiguous “moral conviction,” private organizations and certain federal contractors would be empowered to refuse a range of services to LGBT people, single mothers, and unmarried couples.

The letter:

07-06-16 Sign-On to Chairman Chaffetz Re Fada Hearing

The Human Rights Campaign explained the measure:

The legislation would prohibit any adverse action by the federal government against an individual or organization for discriminatory actions against legally married same-sex couples as long as they claim they are acting in accordance with their religious beliefs. “Adverse action” is broadly defined to include the denial or revocation of a federal tax status or deduction; denial of a federal grant, contract, loan, benefit or employment; or any other act of discrimination. The bill provides individuals and organizations the right to sue the federal government for monetary damages in federal court.

If passed, this legislation would create a breakdown of government services and runaway litigation.  It would permit a federal employee, for example, to refuse to process tax returns, visa applications or Social Security checks whenever a same-sex couple’s paperwork appears on his or her desk.  This legislation would also permit recipients of federal grants and contracts, including those for social services programs like homeless shelters and substance abuse treatment programs, to turn away LGBT people.  It allows any of these individuals or groups, or anyone else who believes they have been somehow required by the federal government to approve of married same-sex couples, to file a lawsuit and potentially receive damages from taxpayer money.

Last September, The New York Times editorial board attacked the bill, warning that it would “it would deliberately warp the bedrock principle of religious freedom under the Constitution.”

They added:

As critics of the bill quickly pointed out, the measure’s broad language — which also protects those who believe that “sexual relations are properly reserved to” heterosexual marriages alone — would permit discrimination against anyone who has sexual relations outside such a marriage. That would appear to include women who have children outside of marriage, a class generally protected by federal law.

This bizarre fixation on what grown-ups do in their bedrooms — which has long since been rejected by the Supreme Court and the vast majority of Americans — is bad enough. The bill makes matters worse by covering for-profit companies, which greatly multiplies the potential scope of discrimination against gays and lesbians.

The bill has broad right-wing support (171 co-sponsors in the House and 37 in the Senate — all Republicans but one, Representative Daniel Lipinski of Illinois, and has been endorsed by the Republican National Committee and presumptive nominee Donald Trump) and should serve as a warning that the fight to retain LGBT rights and protections is far from over and we must continue to be vigilant against efforts to take them away from us.

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Massachusetts Lawmakers Reach Compromise on Transgender Rights Bill

Lawmakers in the Massachusetts House and Senate on Wednesday reached a deal over a proposed transgender rights bill, agreeing on a compromised version to send to Republican Governor Charlie Baker for his signature or veto.

The House and the Senate each previously had their own dueling versions of the bill.

Under the compromise bill, transgender individuals will be able to use bathrooms, locker rooms, and changing rooms in accordance with their gender identity. The bill also bans anti-trans discrimination in the area of public accommodations.

The Boston Globe reports on the deal: 

One place the Senate and House had disagreed was when the bill would take effect. The compromise measure will be fully effective on Oct. 1, 2016, should Governor Charlie Baker sign it into law.

Another area of disagreement was language, included by the House, that would require the attorney general to issue guidance on when and how action can be taken against people who assert gender identity for “an improper purpose.” It would also mandate that the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination make rules and regulations protecting transgender people from discrimination.

That language, slightly tweaked, was included in the compromise. Legislators say the guidance will address several concerns: safety worries from opponents who fear male sexual predators, under the guise of being transgender women, could enter women’s restrooms and locker rooms; anxiety from businesses wondering how and when they can legally ask a person if there is some question about their gender; and concern from transgender people that they might be unreasonably harassed for proof of their gender identity.

House-Senate negotiators agree to October implementation date in just-struck transgender bill accord. Details: t.co/dvis6qK0Rn

— State House News (@statehousenews) July 6, 2016

Governor Baker has not said whether he will sign the compromise version of the bill but experts expect he will.

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Pets-ercise! 6 Cool Ways to Work Out with Your Dog

On your mark, get set, go…

www.advocate.com/families/2016/7/06/pets-ercise-6-cool-ways-work-out-your-dog

Panti Bliss Gives Rousing Speech About Homophobia and Orlando: WATCH

Irish LGBT rights activist and pub landlord Panti Bliss appeared at ILGA-Europe’s Equality Gala in Brussels, Belgium last week to talk about homophobia and the Orlando massacre.

Back in 2014, Panti, aka Rory O’Neill, made headlines when she appeared on stage in Dublin following a performance of James Plunkett’s 1913 Lockout drama The Risen People to give an impassioned speech about prejudice and homophobia. That appearance followed a series of controversies that culminated in state broadcaster RTE making payments to a number of anti-LGBT activists after O’Neill accused them of being homophobic.

RELATED: Irish Photographer Exposes Stupidity of Anti-Gay Iona Institute: VIDEO

At the ILGA event, Panti noted:

“Sometimes you can get into a lot of trouble just for using the word ‘homophobia’…In my case, I have been sued by a whole bunch of people whom I suggested were a bunch of homophobes – sorry, my lawyer prefers if I say ‘allegedly suggested’ – that they were a bunch of homophobes. And these by the way are people who actively campaign for gay people to be treated differently than everybody else…which makes it all the more bizarre to me that they were so horrified at the suggestion…that someone would suggest they were homophobic. Which is weird to me because if you were going to actively campaign for gay people to be treated differently to everyone else, then own it. Don’t actively campaign for gay people to be treated differently to everyone else and then get your knickers in a twist when someone suggests that might be construed as homophobic.

“Since when did homophobic become the worst thing you could call someone? There’s a very easy way to stop people suggesting you might be a homophobe and that is to stop actively campaigning for gay people to be treated differently to everybody else.”

On the subject of Orlando, Panti had this to say:

“I’ve never been to Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, but that doesn’t matter because I know it like the back of my hand. I know the kind of people that were there. I know the fun that they were having. I know the freedom that they felt to be able to be themselves, totally. I know the boys that they were kissing and I know the music they were dancing to. Because I have kissed those very same boys and I have danced to that very same music. I have never been to Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, and yet I’ve spent some of the best times of my life there.”

You can watch the speech below, along with Panti’s 2014 “noble call” and a trailer for documentary The Queen of Ireland below.

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Donald Trump Now Says He Supports North Carolina’s Anti-LGBT Bathroom Bill – WATCH

Donald Trump has done an about-face on North Carolina’s anti-LGBT bathroom bill, HB 2. While Trump previously came out against the legislation, saying that he thought the state made a mistake by passing HB 2, Trump now says he’s “going with the state.”

HB 2 was passed by the state’s legislature and signed by Governor Pat McCrory within one day.

Speaking with The News & Observer, Trump said of the hateful legislation,

“I’m going with the state. The state, they know what what’s going on, they see what’s happening and generally speaking I’m with the state on things like this. I’ve spoken with your governor, I’ve spoken with a lot of people and I’m going with the state.”

Back in April, Trump told The Today Show a rather different story: 

“North Carolina did something that was very strong, and they are paying a big price and there’s a lot of problems. One of the best answers I heard was from a commentator yesterday, saying ‘leave it the way it is. There have been very few problems.’ North Carolina, what they are going through with all of the business that’s leaving and the strife– and that’s on both sides. You leave it the way it is. There have been very few complaints they way it is. People go, they use the bathroom that they feel is appropriate, there has been so little trouble, and the problem with what happened in North Carolina is the strife and the economic punishment they’re taking.”

Let’s see what Caitlyn Jenner has to say about the Donald’s latest flip-flop.

[h/t jmg]

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GOP Candidate Doubles Down, Still Loves Trump for ‘Putting Self-Righteous F*ggots In Their Place’

A Republican candidate for Massachusetts state senate is not apologizing for saying Donald Trump has been “putting self-righteous f*ggots in their place since 1993.”

Ted Busiek made the remark on Twitter in response to a tweet sent out by Chris Hayes showing testimony Trump gave in 1993 before Congress in which he complained that people who “don’t look Indian” shouldn’t be giving gaming licenses.

Trump in 1993, testifying in front of Native American affairs committee: “They don’t look Indian” #inners t.co/A8xl9D5rgf

— All In w/Chris Hayes (@allinwithchris) July 1, 2016

Busiek responded with this tweet:

DONALD TRUMP. Putting self-righteous faggots in their place since 1993. How I love this fellow.#MAGA t.co/wqCxfa4pI2

— Ted Busiek (@TedBusiek) July 2, 2016

Raw Story reports:

Busiek later insisted to State House News Service that he did not use the word “faggot” in a “hateful sense.” The candidate said that term was used to show that the congressman questioning Trump was “obnoxious” and “kind of being a jerk.”

“It’s hard for me to get exercised over naughty words,” he explained. “You can insult somebody without being hateful.”

Busiek, who opposes same-sex marriage and adoption rights, said that he was standing up for “anybody who works for a living,” especially those who had “oppressor status” for being white, male and wealthy.

Busiek justified using the gay slur because he believes many young, male, frat boys and members of the military use it in a non-hateful sense.

Tonight .@fox25news at 10 and 11-My interview with @TedBusiek. Why he’s NOT sorry for his tweet using gay slur pic.twitter.com/PSvNnmSTlI

— Crystal Haynes (@crystalhaynes) July 6, 2016

The backlash was fast and furious. Mediaite notes: 

Among those who pushed back against Busiek was his political opponent, Democratic state Sen. Jamie Eldridge.

“When a candidate for office uses such hateful rhetoric it’s important to stand up to it and not be silent. This is about the fact that in civil society you don’t use hateful rhetoric directed at anyone,” said Eldridge.

Busiek has been unswayed, however, tweeting he doesn’t mind being labeled a “homophobe.”

Today I’m a “homophobe.” Tomorrow, an “Islamophobe.” Maybe an antisemite after that. The Left hasn’t had an original line of attack in years

— Ted Busiek (@TedBusiek) July 6, 2016

He also published a lengthy piece defending his use of the word “f*ggot.” Of the objection to the word being used, he writes, 

The angle here is that the word “faggot” is offensive to decent sensibilities because it’s a derogatory slang term for homosexual. That it has an even older slang meaning of “old woman,” or that in modern parlance it’s more often used to mean “obnoxious person” (as was obviously the sense in which I meant it), were entirely immaterial. Neither etymology nor present day reality are relevant to the new lexicography of the neo-Puritan Social Justice Warriors.

The whole thing presents an interesting question: Can a word that makes one segment of the population uncomfortable but is in common usage by another segment be “culturally verified” as unspeakable if the segment that doesn’t like it demonstrates a loud enough consensus on the matter? From what I can tell, the attempt to police this word out of public utterance has been going on since at least 2011, though it’s probably been much longer.

You can read the rest of his post titled “The Case for Coarse Language”, here.

[Top photo via Facebook]

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Christian Mingle Ends Legal Battle By Opening Up To LGBT Users

“I am gratified that we were able to work with Spark to help ensure that people can fully participate in all the diverse market places that make our country so special, regardless of their sexual orientation.”

The post Christian Mingle Ends Legal Battle By Opening Up To LGBT Users appeared first on ThinkProgress.

thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2016/07/06/3795841/now-gay-christians-can-mingle-too/

"Hands" artists, songwriters, producers speak out about the tribute to Orlando

www.glaad.org/blog/hands-artists-songwriters-producers-speak-out-about-tribute-orlando