This Gay Puerto Rican Boxer Is Dedicating His Next Fight To Orlando Victims

Meet Orlando Cruz, the fifth ranked boxer in the world.

He’s dedicating his July 15 fight to the victims of Orlando’s Pulse massacre, which claimed 49 lives.

Cruz happened to know four of the victims.

Related: Boxer Tyson Fury Explores His Internalized Homophobia By Kissing Gay Man

“At first, I was sad,” said Cruz, speaking to the Orlando Sentinel. “Second, angry. I am very angry because people are homophobic, so they attacked my community. They attacked me.”

During Friday’s fight — which takes place in Kissimmee, Florida — Cruz will ring 10 bells; a gesture that pays respect to the Orlando victims and their families.

Related: Boxer Turned Porn Star Yusaf Mack On Life Out Of The Ring And The Closet

Cruz currently lives in Puerto Rico with his partner, and says his chosen outfit will be an “homage” to the victims of the attack, which now stands as America’s deadliest mass shooting.

Cruz came out in 2013. ““I decided to be free,” he tells The Guardian.

They can call me maricón, or faggot, and I don’t care. Let them say it because they can’t hurt me now. I am relaxed. I feel so happy. But to make this announcement to the whole world I had to be very strong. … I am proud to be Puerto Rican, just like I am proud to be a gay man.”

This isn’t the first time he’s lost friends to homophobic violence.

Related: Boxer Andre Berto Denies Dropping The F-Bomb At Victor Ortiz

“I lost one friend who was murdered by people who hated gay men,” he said. “I was very angry then because homophobia ended his life in the most violent way.”

Fight News reports that Cruz was unable to attend funerals for the victims because of training camp, but on Tuesday, he visited Pulse nightclub and left a pair of boxing gloves and flowers to pay tribute to his friends.

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This Aussie TV Show About a Gay Swimmer in the 90s Will Leave You Wet – VIDEOS

A new Australian television show set in the late 90s tells of a hotshot swimmer on the rise who must come to terms with his sexuality.

Barracuda is based on the novel of the same name by Christos Tsiolkass and stars Elias Anton as Danny Kelly, the titular ‘barracuda, and Rachel Griffiths (Brothers & Sisters, 6 Feet Under). Tsiolkass is perhaps most well known for his previous work The Slap, which was adapted into a U.S. TV series starring Zachary Quinto.

More on Barracuda via SameSame: 

Melbourne 1996. The Golden Age of Australian swimming is beginning and a scholarship to an exclusive boys school brings 16-year-old Danny Kelly one step closer to his ultimate goal – winning Olympic gold.

“Initially, Danny struggles to find his place in the prestigious social circles of the private boys school. However under the charge of highly regarded coach Frank Torma and a friendship/rivalry with teammate Martin Taylor, Danny is soon on track to become Australia’s youngest swimming champion, the unstoppable ‘Barracuda’.”

“Soon, everyone has a stake in Danny’s success and as he swims closer towards gold, he finds himself being drawn into a world where the only thing that matters is winning. When he gets his shot at victory, with all of Australia watching – can the ‘Barracuda’ live up to everyone’s expectations and realise his dream?”

The show started airing this past weekend and will continue in the run-up to the Olympics. No word yet on when the show will air in the U.S.

Watch two trailers:

And below, check out behind the scenes videos from ABC TV in Australia about how Elias Anton trained for the role of Danny Kelly, and also watch author Christos Tsiolkas about adapting his book for television.

The post This Aussie TV Show About a Gay Swimmer in the 90s Will Leave You Wet – VIDEOS appeared first on Towleroad.

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Cops Release Footage of Homophobes Who Knifed and Hurled Gay Slurs at Bronx Man – VIDEO

New York police have released footage of two men they believe knifed and hurled anti-gay slurs at man from the Bronx.

Marquis Devereaux (49) was attacked early on Sunday morning when walking home from work in Clason Point.

The New York Daily News reports: 

“We’re not going to do any of that boyfriend stuff around here,” the two men screamed at Devereaux, who ignored them and kept on walking.

That’s when one of the men slashed Devereaux in the left armpit with a silver knife and the other called him “homo,” “f—-r” and “bumbaclot,” a Jamaican term for a rag used as toilet paper.

Devereaux was taken to Westchester Square Hospital, where he got eight stitches for the knife wound. […]

“I’m not sure if the person thought I was following him or what,” Devereaux told the Daily News in an exclusive interview Tuesday. “I don’t understand why the whole interaction happened. It was two young guys no more than 25 years old.”

Police are hoping the  release of surveillance footage showing the two assailants will lead to information about the whereabouts of the two men.

For Devereaux, this attack is the second time he has been knifed in a bias-motivated incident in the last 5 years. Back in 2011, Devereaux was stabbed in the leg by a man who was mocking his sexuality.

If you have information about this attack you can call NYPD CrimeStoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls are confidential.

Watch surveillance video of the two men police believe attacked Devereaux, below.

The post Cops Release Footage of Homophobes Who Knifed and Hurled Gay Slurs at Bronx Man – VIDEO appeared first on Towleroad.

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Findings Show No New Transmissions Between HIV-Negative Partners & People with HIV on Treatment

HRC Foundation hailed the groundbreaking results of the recently-released PARTNER study finding no linked cases of HIV transmission between people living with HIV undergoing successful antiretroviral therapy (ART) and their HIV-negative partners.

“The results of this important study provide further proof that people living with HIV are not a threat to anyone,” said Mary Beth Maxwell, HRC’s Senior Vice President for Programs, Research, and Training. “It is clear that getting tested, knowing your status, and accessing HIV treatment can help end this epidemic by reducing the spread of HIV. Not only do these findings underscore the continued need for universal access to affordable medications, but they also also cast further doubt on the utility of HIV criminalization laws. Such laws run counter to public health by perpetuating stigma and discouraging people from getting tested or treated for HIV in the first place.”

In more than 30 states, people living with HIV who fail to disclose their HIV-positive status to a partner can be charged with a crime, and if convicted, face imprisonment. Earlier this year, HRC partnered with the National Center for Lesbian Rights and the Center for HIV Law and Policy to launch #EndBadHIVLaws, an advocacy campaign focused on raising awareness of these outdated laws and equipping activists with new tools to mobilize grassroots support.

The landmark PARTNER study was published in the July edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association. More than 1100 mixed-status couples, where one partner is HIV-negative and the other is living with HIV and on ART, were enrolled in the study.  Researchers found no linked cases of HIV transmission despite 58,000 instances of condomless sex among the couples.

To find out more about HRC’s work to promote HIV prevention, treatment and care, visit www.hrc.org/explore/topic/hiv-aids.

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#AM_Equality Tip Sheet: June 13, 2016

SAY IT AIN’T PENCE: With speculation growing that Donald Trump might actually choose notoriously anti-LGBTQ Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate, here’s a reminder of Pence’s disastrous record. Pence became a national disgrace in 2015 for his “license to discriminate” bill that would have allowed businesses to deny service to LGBTQ people — and for subsequently defending the bill over an outcry from the business community and a majority of Hoosier voters. Both Trump and Pence are anti-marriage equality, oppose extending non-discrimination protections to the LGBTQ community and oppose federal guidance protecting transgender people. More from HRC.

• Meanwhile, members of the 2016 Republican Party platform committee continue to reject proposals simply recognizing the existence of LGBTQ people. “Can you at the very least stand up for our right not to be killed?” pleaded openly-LGBTQ committee delegate Rachel Hoff during a meeting Monday at which fellow delegates rejected her efforts to soften the party’s anti- marriage equality stance, and proposals acknowledging attacks on the LGBTQ community in Orlando and by ISIL. The Huffington Post said it best: “The GOP Really Doesn’t Want ‘LGBT’ To Appear Anywhere In Its Platform.”

#StopTheHate VIGIL ON CAPITOL STEPS YESTERDAY FEATURED MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, HRC: HRC joined members of Congress, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI) and more than 60 other Members of Congress, yesterday for an evening vigil on the steps of the U.S. Capitol honoring the 49 LGBTQ people and allies — almost all young and Latinx — lost one month ago in the tragic attack in Orlando. HRC President Chad Griffin shared these comments during the remembrance:

“These 49 individuals, many of them Latinx, were brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, friends and neighbors, husbands and wives. But above all, they were human beings – human beings who were loved, who had hopes and dreams for long and full lives. This deadly attack against our community was the result of a toxic combination of two things: an individual who had been conditioned to hate LGBTQ people, and his all too easy access to military-style guns. It is imperative that we address both issues in order to protect our community. Unfortunately, over the last month, Republican leaders have continued to stand in the way of meaningful progress to end hate or gun violence. In the 30 days since these 49 lives behind me were lost, Congress has voted down gun safety legislation over and over again. Yesterday, we learned the RNC is considering adding a slew of provisions targeting LGBTQ people to its official platform. And today, House Republicans convened a hearing to discuss a bill that would sanction taxpayer-funded discrimination against LGBTQ people in all 50 states.”

• One month after the Orlando massacre, Congress still hasn’t voted on a resolution condemning the attack. With the House scheduled to recess Friday for seven weeks, the Washington Post reports that it’s likely members will fail to vote on a resolution recognizing Orlando’s victims before adjourning. It’s been 13 legislative days since such a bill was introduced in the House; it typically takes an average of 3.7 legislative days to pass such resolutions. More here.
• Earlier yesterday, House Republican leaders marked the anniversary with a shameful hearing on a deeply-discriminatory, anti-LGBTQ bill that would sanction unprecedented taxpayer-funded discrimination against LGBTQ people. Providing powerful testimony against the odious bill was marriage equality plaintiff Jim Obergefell. Former Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) and Columbia law professor Katherine Franke aggressively rebutted proponents of the harmful legislation.

AHEAD OF RNC, CLEVELAND CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE ON NEW PROTECTIONS FOR TRANS COMMUNITY: Tonight, just days ahead of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, city officials will vote on anti-discrimination legislation protecting the right of transgender people to use restrooms and other facilities consistent with their gender identity. While Cleveland law prohibits anti-transgender discrimination in employment and public accommodations, due to exemptions in the 2009 legislation, transgender people continue to face legal discrimination in access to single-sex facilities such as locker rooms and restrooms. More from The Cleveland Plain Dealer.

• Terrible, heartbreaking reality for transgender people in bathrooms: Results from a survey conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) starkly illustrate the real horrors of discrimination facing transgender people when it comes to bathrooms. More from Vox.

LANDMARK STUDY FINDS PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV UNDERGOING SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT ARE NOT INFECTIOUS: Groundbreaking results of the recently-released PARTNER study found no linked cases of HIV transmission between people living with HIV undergoing successful antiretroviral therapy (ART) and their HIV-negative partners. More than 1100 mixed-status couples, where one partner is HIV-negative, and the other is living with HIV and undergoing successful treatment, were enrolled in the study. More from HIV I-Base.

• And according to another recent study, the dating app Grindr used in-app advertising to effectively persuade users to get tested for HIV. More from The New York Times.

RECOUNT RESULTS IN, ANGLICAN CHURCH EMBRACING MARRIAGE EQUALITY: After appearing to narrowly reject a resolution authorizing marriage equality, a vote recount yesterday affirmed the Anglican Church of Canada’s embrace of same-sex unions. Prior to yesterday’s recount, the Anglican Church of the United States was the only Anglican body to fully support marriage rights for same-sex couples. More from The Associated Press.

READING RAINBOW

The Advocate breaks down House Republicans hearing on anti-LGBTQ legislation yesterday… WWLP shares how advocates celebrated a huge victory for transgender equality in Massachusetts… OUT profiles 16 out and proud Olympians headed to Rio… Mississippi Business Journal tallies up the legal time spent defending the discriminatory HB 1523… and Agence France-Presse reports that homophobia has surged in Mexico since its president proposed to extend marriage equality to the country.

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!

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PHOTOS: Outfest 2016's Opening Night Gala

www.advocate.com/film/2016/7/13/photos-outfest-2016s-opening-night-gala

Gay Republicans Are “Mad As Hell” About Antigay GOP Platform, Still Want Your Money

Can you believe that the new Republican party platform is homophobic? Yes, of course you can. Absolutely nobody is surprised by this news — except for the one group of people who should definitely have known better: Gay Republicans.

The platform is pushing the far limits of how homophobic politicians are allowed to be in this day and age. It wants to criminalize trans people for using the bathroom. It supports ex-gay torture camps. It opposes marriage equality, of course. It even calls for overturning the Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality — somehow — and getting rid of judges who acknowledge that the Constitution protects all Americans, not just straight ones.

Related: GOP Platform Is Going After Internet Pornography, Which It Calls A “Public Health Crisis”

Bless their dumb hearts, some queer Republicans tried to get more inclusive language in there. One woman even tried to make it more tempting for her colleagues with the promise of a little xenophobia: Rachel Hoff, a delegate, proposed a sentence about how Muslims are trying to kill LGBTs. But her colleagues shouted her down, saying that it was wrong to single out queer people as victims. Yeah, of course, because then they’d have to admit that they’re complicit in that victimization.

And now gay Republicans are in a huff, acting all surprised that things turned out as they have. “I’m mad as hell…This isn’t my GOP, and I know it’s not yours either,” said a fundraising email sent by the Log Cabin Republicans. Hahaha, yes it is, of course it is, when has this ever not been the GOP? The email also suggests that Donald Trump is nicer about gays than this platform is — but that’s not really true either.

Related: Hear From Closeted Gay Republicans Cruising Grindr At CPAC

The email then goes on to ask each recipient to donate hundreds of dollars (must be nice to be a Republican and have all that extra cash lying around) so they can … do something? Anything? The email hints at buying advertisements around the upcoming convention, as if that’ll do any good or change any Republican minds.

Or maybe the Log Cabin Republicans need the money because they’ve finally figured out the only way to win the support of a politician: bribe ’em.

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Watch Divine Get Raped By A Lobster In Crystal-Clear Restoration Of John Waters’ “Multiple Maniacs”

Rape is never funny, except when Divine is being raped by a lobster. That’s just one of the many highlights in John Waters’ difficult-to-find cinematic calamity Multiple Maniacs, a 1970 offering that also stars Dreamlanders Mink Stole, Cookie Mueller, and Edith Massey (in her first-ever film role.) Upon viewing the film, Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Joseph H. H. Kaplan notoriously summarized it thus: “Horrendous. Sickening. Revolting. Most distasteful.”

Related: Legendary Cult Actor Mink Stole On John Waters, Divine And Tapping Into Catholic Anger

Until now, the trash epic has never been released on DVD or Blu-Ray, and the only way to see it was by tracking down a 1994 VHS tape, rough prints, or 16mm reel. Now, Janus Films is giving the film its long-deserved theatrical premiere in New York City on August 5th. A Criterion release can’t be far behind.

If you’ve never acquainted yourself with Lady Divine and Her Cavalcade Of Perversion, this is the perfect time.

Related: John Waters To Release Family-Friendly Remake Of Pink Flamingos, You Know, For Kids

Watch the infamous Divine vs. Lobstora scene here:

Watch the official trailer, courtesy of Vanity Fair, here:

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