Justin Vivian Bond Runs Into Politicians, Activists and Secret Service: DNC Day 2

Last night, after walking around in the heat and humidity for hours on end I decided to head back to the Show Biz Safe House to slap some Fresca on a panty shield and get myself together before finally making my way to the Wells Fargo Center for the convention. As I was getting ready a huge thunderstorm began to rage outside. It was Biblical. My host offered to drive me so we traveled to South Philly through the storm. After being stopped and redirected at several security checkpoints he lied and said he was an Uber driver and we finally got in.

I made my way through the security check and strolled into the main hall just in time to catch Sen Kirsten Gillibrand’s speech. I was so excited! Perched next to a group of journalists who were tap tapping away at their computers I had the perfect spot to witness my first convention live. I was having a blast and feeling very special: tweeting, live streaming on Facebook, Instagramming the crowd. I couldn’t believe my luck. Unfortunately it wasn’t to last long. Just as I was composing a tweet about Al Franken a Secret Service Agent tapped me on the shoulder and told me I had to move.

Where?

I spent the next half hour, as Sarah Silverman laid into the Bernie or Bust guys, wandering the halls trying to find a place to gain access to the main hall without a Secret Service clearance. No dice!

On my travels I passed Rep. John Lewis, David Schwimmer, and tv screens with Paul Simon singing, but all I got when I tried to go in was “no entrance.”

Feeling like failure I hopped on the train and headed back to The Beardquarters and a good stiff whiskey.

I’ve since heard Michelle Obama made the world cry. Gonna have to YouTube that one!

This morning I woke up and headed out to connect with the local queer activists and protesters.

There was a big action taking place at the Mazzoni Center, a local health center serving the LGBTQ and Poz communities. Word was out that the haters from the Westboro Baptist Church were going to be there to harass the transgender community as they entered and left the building.

The Philadelphia queer community and many wonderful out of town guests showed up to create a wall of safety. It was beautiful.

While I was there I had the opportunity to speak with Brandi Bowers, a transwoman and DNC delegate, artist Joe Ovelman, Nellie Fitzpatrick, the Director of LGBT Affairs for the office of the Philadelphia mayor, Christopher Bartlett, director of the William Way LGBT Community Center and to film the gorgeous, inspiring kids who were there to protect their own.

After all that I needed a beer. On my way to the closest watering hole I ran into New York City Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer who granted me an interview. Jimmy told me he’d been very close to Hillary Clinton and that she smells better than I do. Hmmm…

Well, it’s been quite a ride so far. I’m now sitting in the press pen and I just watched incredulously as Bernie Sanders officially declared “she who smelleth like a rose” the official nominee of the Democratic Party.

Smell her!!!

Whether in the hall or on the street it’s an extraordinarily exciting time to be in Philadelphia.

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OMG — Stephen Colbert Made It to the Podium Again! (Video)

Reprising his role, this time at the Democratic National Convention, Colbert, with his weasel, broke through to the podium. 

www.advocate.com/comedy/2016/7/26/omg-stephen-colbert-made-it-podium-again-video

Homophobia Is the Real Monster in 'Stranger Things'

LGBT viewers can find much to relate to — and fear — in the supernatural new Netflix series.

www.advocate.com/television/2016/7/26/homophobia-real-monster-stranger-things

Kids Impersonate Donald Trump (Video)

Some see Donald Trump as a petulant child, and that’s just how these children portray him. 

www.advocate.com/comedy/2016/7/26/kids-impersonate-donald-trump-video

This Closeted Sailor Was Accidentally Outed, What Happened Next May Surprise You

Conner Curnick, photo via Outsports.

Coming out in the military used to be impossible. The repeal of “Don’t ask, don’t tell” has changed that reality, but it is still a scary prospect for many.

That was certainly the case for Conner Curnick, who worried his Navy buddies would never accept his sexual orientation were the truth to come to light. When it did, he was in tears, and he found acceptance from others as well as within himself.

Related: Seaman Makes History With Beautiful Same-Sex Kiss

Curnick tells his story in a moving personal essay he penned for Outsports. Why Outsports? Becuase he just so happens to be a competitive water polo player and runner, as well.

Curnick competing in a Reebok Spartan Race, via Outsports.

Curnick says he was heading back to his quarters at a naval base in Pensacola, Fla. after spending the night with a guy he was seeing, when he felt his phone begin to buzz.

Related: Out Swimmer Ian Thorpe Is Almost Ready To Be A Gay Role Model

It turns out someone had discovered a photograph of him with another guy on the back of his motorcycle. His friends were asking him if he was gay. He decided to tell the truth.

I was alone at the time and in tears, and I decided to come clean — yes, I’m gay, I told them. The reactions started coming in and, to my relief and surprise, they were overwhelmingly positive. While I did lose a few friends, the ones closest to me became even closer, because I no longer had to lie about who I was and for the first time they knew what was really going on in my life.

He reports that his life began to flourish when he started living as an openly gay man, although there was some push back.

This past spring, in combat training before my deployment to Afghanistan, someone found out I was gay, walked up to me and said, “I’m glad I’m not deploying with you, I wouldn’t trust a fag with my life.” This despite the fact I was one of the better marksmen and performers in my class. I use comments like that to fuel my fire to succeed in everything that I do.

He says that homophobic slurs were commonplace while he was enlisted in the Navy Special Warfare Program. Those sentiments kept him in the closet.

Related: Photos: Fleet Week Heats Up The Streets Of New York

When the truth was revealed, Curnick was surprised at the reactions.

I feared I would be rejected by people I once was friends with, terrified that the leadership above me would look at me as less of a man, or that any accomplishment I have will be attributed to me being gay, and not my merit. I was completely and utterly wrong. In fact, some of the most vocally homophobic people ended up being my biggest supporters.

He says he is now a much happier, productive and successful person and that while he still faces discrimination he is working to fight back against those antiquated ideas.

I am currently working with fellow LGBT sailors to start an organization at my base for LGBT service members to promote understanding and ensure equality in the workplace. I hope that in the future, people won’t have to “come out,” but they can simply say this is my boy/girlfriend and be accepted by everyone.

Read the entire essay at Outsports here.

Related: PHOTOS: Gay Soldiers Ask And Tell In New Portrait Project

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This Gay Sanders Delegate Isn’t 100 Percent On Board With Hillary Yet… But Never Say Never

The Democratic National Convention is moving along, more or less, and now Breitbart has found a gay guy with a goofy hat to talk about why he’s reluctant to support Hillary. Check out the short video interview, which is surprisingly sensible considering who recorded it:

The headline on the video is a little dumb: “Gay Sanders Delegate from CA Explains Why He’s ‘Never Hillary’” but that’s not exactly what the guy says.

In the interview, he points out that even though we have gay marriage now, there are plenty of other issues left to address: “you could be fired from your job, you could lose your housing, you could be denied the right to go to various businesses for services.”

He also emphasizes that Bernie and his supporters aren’t giving up.

“I don’t believe he’s conceded — or at least conceded in terms of this progressive movement, which I will continue to move along with as well as others in this party.”

Related: Crazed Conservative Calls DNC’S Gender-Neutral Bathrooms “Rape Rooms”

Still, he never says that he won’t vote for Hillary, just that she hasn’t done as much as Bernie. And that’s an interesting observation — maybe he’s right, maybe Hillary hasn’t proven herself. All she’s done is declare that “gay rights are human rights” as Secretary of State.

Oh, and she also launched a Global Equality Fund to promote international LGBT equality.

Then there were the times she voted against banning gay marriage, voted for nondiscrimination protection in the workplace, voted against gay adoption bans, and implemented hate crime legislation.

Also, she passed the UN’s first ever LGBT human rights resolution. And made it easier for trans people to get passports. And was the first First Lady ever to march in a Pride parade.

But whatever. Bernie would probably have been a good president for LGBTQs as well. But he’s not running anymore, so oh well! At this point there are two ways the election can go. One on your choices has done stuff for gays, and the other hasn’t. Tough choice!

Related: Drop Everything And Watch Michelle Obama’s Speech To The DNC

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Hillary Clinton Makes History as First Woman Nominated for President by Major Political Party: WATCH

Hillary Clinton has officially become the Democratic Party’s nominee for president of the United States, the first woman to ever be nominated by a major political party for that office.

Clinton secured the requisite number of delegates to secure the nomination during a roll call vote that took place during the second day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. There had been some discussion as to whether the roll call vote would take place or whether Bernie Sanders would nominate her by acclamation as Clinton did for Barack Obama in 2008. A roll call vote went forward after those close to Sanders suggested it was important for his delegates to publicly cast their votes for him.

In the end, however, it was Sanders who stepped up the mic after every state had weighed in and called for the convention to name Clinton as the party’s nominee by acclamation.

The chair accepted that motion and a thunderous chorus of “ayes” declared themselves in favor of that motion, making Clinton the nominee.

NBC News reports: 

In a culmination of days’ worth of efforts to unify the party, Sanders himself moved at the conclusion of the lengthy state-by-state roll call vote – after Clinton had won a majority of delegates but before her formal nomination was announced to the thousands gathered in the Wells Fargo Center — to nominate Clinton by acclimation.

“I move that all votes cast by delegates be reflected in the official record, and I move that Hillary Clinton be selected as the nominee of the Democratic Party for president of the United States,” he announced from the convention floor as delegates roared their approval.

Clinton celebrated the nomination with a tweet that included the photo at top with the simple caption, “History.” 

Watch Sanders nominate Clinton by acclamation, below.

The post Hillary Clinton Makes History as First Woman Nominated for President by Major Political Party: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.

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Larry Sanders, Slaves, Miss Cleo, VMAs, Justin Bieber, DNC: NEWS

ROLL CALL. Larry Sanders casts votes for his brother Bernie in emotional moment during the DNC’s roll call vote.

Powerful. (full clip: t.co/EOyaskeRP6)#DemsInPhilly t.co/qM2rG7Itu1

— Maddow Blog (@MaddowBlog) July 26, 2016

FASHION. This style goddess won the DNC best dressed award. And we’re barely into day 2.

MUSIC. Lyric video for Tinashe’s “Superlove.”

FACTS THAT SHOULDN’T REQUIRE CLARIFICATION. Yes, slaves built The White House.

Michelle Obama is right – the White House was indeed built by slaves starting in 1792. t.co/qRjgMaad2Z pic.twitter.com/9FUXt5KPQx

— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) July 26, 2016

FEUDS. Demi Lovato and Perez Hilton are having it out on Twitter.

DASVIDANIYA. More evidence to suggest Russia tied to hacking of DNC: “The noose is tightening around Russia.”

HATE-MONGERING. Hillary Clinton slams Donald Trump for ambiguous yet tacit support for KKK leaders.

RIP. Miss Cleo has passed away at 53: “A rep for Miss Cleo — whose real name was Youree Harris — tells us she died Tuesday morning in Palm Beach County, FL. We’re told she was recently hospitalized, but was discharged last week to a hospice center. We’re told Cleo was originally diagnosed with colon cancer … but it spread to her liver and lungs.”

AUTOPSY. Cause of death finally determined in death of Tobias M. Strebel, who became famous for having plastic surgery to look like Justin Bieber: “a lethal mix of pain killers, alcohol and anti-anxiety medicine [killed Strebel], authorities say…Lab tests showed Xanax, Valium, and Ativan in his liver, along with codeine and morphine.”

JUSTIN BIEBER. In unrelated Bieber news, Justin Bieber doesn’t want to do a gay sex scene in an upcoming movie about a pop star: “He won’t take the part unless the sex scene with him and one of the male backup dancers is taken out of the final script.”

DNC. Bernie Sanders’ former press secretary unleashes Tweetstorm disabusing Sanders’ supporters of the notion that the election was stolen from them. 

But let me be clear – NO ONE STOLE THIS ELECTION! Team Sanders we did AMAZING WORK. But we lost. It’s a hard reality for some.

— Symone D. Sanders (@SymoneDSanders) July 25, 2016

MISOGYNY. ‘Hillary Clinton’s entire career has been set to a soundtrack of shouting.’

MUSIC VIDEOS. MTV announces 2016 VMA nominees. Beyoncé and Adele lead the pack. Notable ‘snubs’ include Taylor Swift and Nick Jonas.

CARPOOL KARAOKE. Apple TV buys Late Late Show segment, promises new episodes weekly via Apple Music.

TOO HOT FOR TUESDAY. Dee Jaxon.

The post Larry Sanders, Slaves, Miss Cleo, VMAs, Justin Bieber, DNC: NEWS appeared first on Towleroad.

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