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scoot_n_swing posted a photo:
Maple Leafs Regroup, IAGSDC Square Dance Convention, Toronto, July 2016, Fairmont Royal York Hotel, hosted by Triangle Squares. Fun badge tour organizer Crystal Chandelier (l) in bear mascot costume
Daily Archives: July 6, 2016
DOJ Asks Federal Judge to Halt NC’s HB 2 as Trump Says He Supports the Anti-LGBT Law
DOJ Asks Federal Judge to Halt NC’s HB 2 as Trump Says He Supports the Anti-LGBT Law
The Justice Department yesterday asked a federal judge to put the brakes on North Carolina’s heinous anti-trans “bathroom bill” citing “state-sanctioned discrimination.”
The “bathroom” portion of the law addresses what the Justice Department says is a “non-existent problem” by prohibiting trans people from using public restrooms that correspond to their gender identity.
RELATED: Donald Trump Promises Evangelicals He’ll Defend Marriage and Family: WATCH
Justice sued North Carolina earlier this year, alleging that HB 2 violates federal nondiscrimination laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and the Violence Against Women Act.
Buzzfeed reports:
In the Tuesday motion in one of several lawsuits over HB 2, the Justice Department asked for “a preliminary injunction enjoining Defendants from complying with or implementing Section 1.3 of North Carolina Session Law 2016-3, House Bill 2”…
In the Justice Department filing, the lawyers filed a 70-page memorandum of law explaining their legal reasoning for seeking the injunction. Primarily, the lawyers note that a recent ruling from the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals – the court that hears appeals out of North Carolina – “establishes the United States’ strong likelihood of success under Title IX.” The lawyers went on to argue that the “controlling logic” of that case – G.G. v. Gloucester County School Board — and the “growing consensus” among other courts suggests the same should be true of the Title VII and VAWA claims. In addition, they note, VAWA explicitly covers gender identity-based discrimination.
“Excluding transgender men and women from bathroom and changing facilities consistent with their gender identity causes significant and irreparable physical, psychological, economic, social, and stigmatic harm to transgender people,” Justice Department lawyers wrote in the motion.
The filing came on the same day that Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump visited North Carolina for campaign events. While Clinton did not address HB2, Trump told reporters that he supports HB2 while nonetheless claiming to be “better for the gay community.” Trump has come under fire for claiming at the rally for saying that Saddam Hussein “did good” by killing terrorists.
If Donald Trump is so good for #women & #LGBT I dare him to express his support for abortion rights and LGBT rights to this #Raleigh crowd.
— K.M. O’Sullivan (@KellyMOSullivan) July 6, 2016
Watch the Trump rally in Raleigh, North Carolina yesterday.
Young Man Comes Out to Dad on Prom Night in Moving Hallmark Short Film: WATCH
Young Man Comes Out to Dad on Prom Night in Moving Hallmark Short Film: WATCH
In The Beginning, a new short film produced by Hallmark Card’s streaming service Feeln, a young man comes out to his father on prom night, and tells him that his buddy Casey who’s driving him to prom is actually his prom date.
Vince, the father, is giving the last touches on a boutonniere he made for his “ladykiller” son Davis, when between a few uncomfortable pauses and a little “game score” talk the son’s revelations change the atmosphere drastically.
Dad was not expecting to hear that.
To make things more interesting, good-looking buddy Casey has just arrived to take “stud” son Davis to Prom. “Dad, you remember Casey?”
Awkward…
Thankfully, this coming-out story has a happy ending and it shows a father’s unconditional love for his son. Love no matter what.
Check out the video below:
Feeln is a part of Hallmark Cards and is based in Los Angeles, California. It features “heartfelt stories of love and togetherness, anytime, anywhere.”
The Beginning was directed by Melanie McGraw and written by Steven Tagle, a recipient of the 2016 Asian American Writers’ Workshop Margins Fellowship and one of Lambda Literary’s 2010 Emerging LGBT Voices.
Andy Cohen Grills Anderson Cooper About His Face-Off with Pam Bondi: WATCH
Andy Cohen Grills Anderson Cooper About His Face-Off with Pam Bondi: WATCH
Anderson Cooper spoke to Andy Cohen about his epic face-off with anti-gay Florida attorney general Pam Bondi following the Orlando massacre.
Last month, Cooper took Bondi to task for her about-face on LGBT rights in the wake of the Orlando shooting. Although Bondi has been vocal in her fight against same-sex marriage in the state, she has signaled her support for the LGBT community, stating that “anyone who attacks our LGBT community, anyone who attacks anyone in our state, will be gone after to the fullest extent of the law.”
@PamBondi I enjoy watching @GOP hypocrites like you getting caught lying and whining when your true self is exposed: t.co/Wa0YjpBo8l
— Richard Green (@greenrichardg) July 2, 2016
RELATED: Florida AG Pam Bondi Extends Insincere Olive Branch to the Gay Couples She Fought So Hard Against
Cooper said to Bondi:
“I talked to a lot of gay and lesbian people here yesterday who are not fans of yours and who said that they thought you were being a hypocrite, that you for years have fought – you basically gone after gay people, said that in court that gay people simply by fighting for marriage equality were trying to do harm to the people of Florida. To induce public harm, I believe was the term you used in court. Do you really think you’re a champion of the gay community?”
Bondi argued that she was merely defending the state constitution, adding that she “never said I don’t like gay people, that’s ridiculous.”
At a June 30th OneOrlando Fund event, in conversation with Cohen, Cooper said:
“She knew it didn’t go particularly well.
“We ended up shaking hands and she said she thought I didn’t think I liked her and I said, ‘I have no personal feelings about you whatsoever.’ It’s not my job to go out to dinner and go out and be friends with people I’m covering.
“I tried to be as respectful as possible and let her talk about what she wanted to talk about and when the list of things she actually could talk about were limited.
“Clearly she wasn’t happy with how it all ended up but that’s okay.”
The OneOrlando Fund aims to provide support to the victims of the Pulse tragedy and their families. Cohen and Cooper raised $240,000 for the Fund.
Watch the Cooper/Bondi grilling below followed by the Cooper/Cohen interview.
PHOTOS: Explore India's 50 Shades of Gay
PHOTOS: Explore India's 50 Shades of Gay
www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/2016/7/06/photos-explore-indias-50-shades-gay
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Britney Spears, Mary J Blige, Troye Sivan, RuPaul and 20+ Artists Release ‘Hands’ for Orlando – LISTEN
Britney Spears, Mary J Blige, Troye Sivan, RuPaul and 20+ Artists Release ‘Hands’ for Orlando – LISTEN
Interscope Records and GLAAD have released “Hands”, a musical tribute to the 49 Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting victims featuring dozens of artists.
The track features Mary J Blige, Jason Derulo, Britney Spears, Tyler Glenn, Selena Gomez, Halsey, Ty Herndon, Imagine Dragons, Juanes, Adam Lambert, Mary Lambert, Jennifer Lopez, the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles, Kacey Musgraves, MNEK, Alex Newell, P!nk, Prince Royce, Nate Ruess, RuPaul, Troye Sivan, Jussie Smollett, Gwen Stefani, and Meghan Trainor.
“Hands” was written by Warner Chappell writers Justin Tranter & Julia Michaels, and BloodPop; produced by BloodPop, Mark Ronson, and Justin Tranter.
Proceeds from the sale of the new tribute single in the United States will benefit Equality Florida Pulse Victims Fund, the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida, and GLAAD.
It’s available on iTunes.
To further support those affected by the tragedy in Orlando, visit HERE.
Iconic San Francisco Gay Bar ‘The Stud’ to Close
Iconic San Francisco Gay Bar ‘The Stud’ to Close
A San Francisco gay institution — The Stud — is set to close its doors in September due to skyrocketing rents. Its landlord raised the rent of the South of Market gay bar by 300%.
Michael McElhaney, The Stud’s owner, made the announcement to patrons and employees on Sunday.
But the bar’s closest friends are trying to save the business, NBC Bay Area reports:
Performer Mica Sigourney is looking beyond that, trying to form an ownership group among the bar’s closest friends.
“A group of 15 people – drag queens, artists, bar workers, politicos and others – are coming together to form a co-op and attempt to buy the business and keep it at this location,” said Sigourney, who has performed at the bar for eight years in the weekly drag show “Some Thing” as alter-ego VivvyAnne ForeverMore.
McElhaney likes the idea and hopes the bar lands in the hands of the community it has served “to create new memories, new generations.”
The group, called SOS: Save our Stud, launched a Facebook page and set up an email account — [email protected] — to keep the community informed of its actions and needs. Sigourney is heading up the SOS effort. The group also is asking the city to designate The Stud as a historic landmark.
Join the Facebook group HERE.
Watch NBC Bay Area’s report:
Anti-Gay Christian Activist Halts Same-Sex Marriage on Isle of Man: WATCH
Anti-Gay Christian Activist Halts Same-Sex Marriage on Isle of Man: WATCH
Despite media reports yesterday that same-sex marriage is now legal on the Isle of Man, an anti-gay religious activist has successfully delayed the legislation.
In April, it was reported that the Isle of Man had legalized same-sex marriage. However Peter Murcott (above), a lay preacher and member of Christian Concern who has campaigned against gay rights, raised a petition which has prevented the law from being promulgated. The issue will now go before the privy council sitting on July 13th.
Peter Murcott I hope you are proud of your shameful behaviour in making the IOM the laughing stock of world. Loving people support =marriage
— KevT Brown (@merimaat) July 5, 2016
In an interview with Manx.net, Manx Rainbow Association’s Lee Vorster has explained how Murcott, a private citizen, halted the implementation of gay marriage on the island.
RELATED: Isle of Man Leader Comes Out, Launches Campaign for Same-Sex Marriage
In 2013, Murcott and Christian Concern wrote to Queen Elizabeth asking her to refuse to give royal assent to same-sex marriage laws in England and Wales. The letter stated that “the effects of this measure upon the nation will be nothing short of catastrophic; but of even greater importance is that it will set the nation on a direct collision course with the Courts of Heaven, with all the attendant consequences.”
Manx Rainbow Association angry today claiming Peter Murcott has caused a halt to the IOM same sex marriage bill. It has gone privy council.
— Paul Moulton IOM (@paulmoulton) July 5, 2016
Watch the interview with Vorster below.
(Image via Twitter)
@iomlgbt @VorsterLee say he’s dismayed that the Same Sex Marriage Bill has been haltedt.co/2q0xVJExCG pic.twitter.com/CbVNlW6zE9
— Paul Moulton IOM (@paulmoulton) July 5, 2016
LGBT Equality Includes the Right to Live Without Gun Violence
LGBT Equality Includes the Right to Live Without Gun Violence
The NRA is as damaging to LGBT livelihoods as Ted Cruz or One Million Moms, writes the founder of a new gun control organization.
www.advocate.com/commentary/2016/7/06/lgbt-equality-includes-right-live-without-gun-violence
