Orlando: My City & My Heart, by Alina
“Born and raised in Orlando , I was horrified when my city became the home of the worst mass shooting in US history. A retired crime scene investigator, I was called to respond to the Pulse shooting incident to identify the victims. I spent 2 days becoming intimately familiar with each of their 49 stories – learning of the friends who reported them missing and the

www.noh8campaign.com/article/orlando-my-city-my-heart-by-alina

We Are The Pulse of Orlando, by Ethan
“My name is Ethan Marc from Orlando, Florida . I was inspired to join the NOH 8 Campaign when a hate-filled coward, armed with an assault rifle, entered my home-club & my safe place, Pulse , and took out my friends in cold blood. Dancing , loving , they were living their lives. They were mowed down that night on June 12th in 2016, but they live on forever in our hearts,

www.noh8campaign.com/article/we-are-the-pulse-of-orlando-by-ethan

Dallas Pride Ramps Up Security After Orlando Massacre, Fatal Shooting of 5 Police Officers

Dallas Pride announced this week that only clear bags will be allowed

Following the terror attack on a gay Orlando nightclub, as well as the fatal shooting of five police officers downtown, Dallas Pride has announced for its upcoming

Among other things, Dallas Pride announced that only clear bags will be allowed in the Festival in the Park, which follows the parade. Unattended items will be seized.

We are extremely proud that the Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade and Festival in the Park has a strong history of being a safe and enjoyable event for everyone. We also understand that recent events have caused many, including us, to be concerned about Dallas Pride 2016.  We are committed to continuous work through our security committee, comprised of current and retired law enforcement experts, to work with the Dallas Police Department and other agencies to ensure that Dallas Pride continues to be a safe and enjoyable celebration for years to come.

Please help us by doing your part to ensure a safe and fun Dallas Pride. For several years we have asked that you not bring glass containers, backpacks, coolers, or weapons. This year we will only allow clear bags into the Festival at the Park. Unattended items (bags, coolers, etc.) will be seized. Click here for details on the clear bag policy or click here for the festival rules. Thank you for your understanding and we look forward to seeing you at Dallas Pride 2016!

 

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Rio 2016, Day 15 Report: Redemption, Heartbreak and Mo Racing Fever

Wow. What a night for the host country.

Brazilians went wild after their team, the seleção, won their first ever gold medal in soccer, beating Germany at the iconic Maracanã stadium.

The stakes were extremely high as the country’s national sport and most intense passion tried to regain the world’s respect after the humiliating 7-1 defeat to Germany at the World Cup semifinal in 2014.

It worked.

The dramatic match finished 1-1 after overtime and had to be decided by the dreaded penalty shootout. An entire nation held its breath until Brazil goalkeeper Weverton defended Nils Petersen fifth kick.

Then, Neymar the loved-then-hated-then-loved-again captain of the team, scored Brazil’s fifth — and golden goal. Pure poetry.

After a slow start to the tournament, with scoreless matches against both South Africa and Iraq, Brazilian fans had committed the ultimate act of sacrilege: they started crossing out Neymar’s name on the back of their jerseys.

But after last night, all’s forgotten. Neymar is king, again.

“With the help of Neymar’s foot Brazil finally wins the gold in the Olympic Soccer”, noted sports journalist Gustavo Martinez. “As of today, Brazilians have won everything in football.”

Germany had the last laugh at the World Cup.

Now Brazil cry tears of joy.t.co/jazAnQQpbq pic.twitter.com/Z3aJpMOGnY

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 20, 2016

♦

After Bolt’s “triple-triple” earlier in the week, yesterday in Rio the athletic glory went to Mo Farah’s “double-double.”

The British distance runner (who had already made headlines last week when he fell down during the 10,000m race, but still  won the gold) won last night’s 5,000m, as well.

Farah had won the same races in London 2012, making him the second man to win both long-distance events after Finland’s Lasse Virén did it in 1972 and 1976.

Mo Farah came to Britain as a Somali refugee. He is now Britain’s greatest ever distance runner. #refugeeswelcome pic.twitter.com/1KDFVlLdoF

— James Melville (@JamesMelville) August 21, 2016

American Paul Kipkemoi Chelimo finished second, but it was disqualified for a lane infringement. A few moments later, however, IAFF, track and field’s governing body, said he hadn’t broken any rules and would in fact get the silver medal.

Hope you all are watching this 5000m medal ceremony back home. @Paulchelimo just looks so stunned. This is just…wonderful. #Rio2016

— USATF (@usatf) August 21, 2016

Sadly, American viewers weren’t able to see the ceremony live. NBC aired Ryan Lochte’s interview instead, which frustrated some viewers:

@usatf We are watching Ryan Lochte fake contrition.

— Patrick MacDonald (@CoachMacDonaldP) August 21, 2016

@usatf we would be if @NBCOlympics wasn’t interviewing Lochte again 😤😤😤😤

— Sarah Hopkins (@MNXCCoachHop) August 21, 2016

@usatf I wish we could! Thanks @NBCOlympics …. hmph.

— Bill (@sr71fan90) August 21, 2016

♦

Team USA pulled a different “double-double” win last night, with gold medals for both the men and the women in the 4x400m relays.

It was the women’s sixth straight victory in the event, and anchor Allyson Felix became the most decorated female track and field athlete in history, winning her sixth Olympic gold medal.

Allyson Felix just made history t.co/a9ZJ4qmvDm

— Huffington Post (@HuffingtonPost) August 21, 2016

♦

Caster Semenya won gold in the 800m race and we could finally see the South African middle-distance runner smiling, while celebrating her personal best time of 1min 55.28sec, and a new South-African record.

Since the 2009 world championship when Pierre Weiss, the general secretary of IAAF said that she was a “woman, but maybe not 100 percent,” and forced her to undergo gender tests, she became a very reserved athlete.

She has since been diagnosed with hyperandrogenism, (her testosterone levels are higher than most women and more similar to men’s), but “perhaps no female athlete has faced such brutal scrutiny by fellow competitors, sports officials and journalists,” the New York Times wrote.

In a rare post-race conference (her first major appearance since she won silver in 2012), Semenya told reporters: “It’s not about looking at people, how they look, how they speak, how they run. It’s not about being muscular. It’s all about sports.”

She added that her priority after the interview was to call home. “My wife is waiting for my call,” she said. Semenya married her longtime girlfriend Violet Raseboy last December.

Yes!! Just landed to see @caster800m won #Gold for #RSA Fantastic. So proud. Congratulations #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/psXCFbz2yA

— Gary Player (@garyplayer) August 21, 2016

♦

Super stylish high jumper Ruth Beitia of Spain proved the old sports cliché “never give up” sometimes does pay off.

The 37-year-old finally won gold, competing in her fourth Olympics. She finished 16th in Athens, seventh in Beijing and fourth in London. But Rio gave her gold. She didn’t miss a single jump at all three heights leading up to the final bar.

“I’m happy,” she told Reuter’s Nick Mulvenney. “Never did I think I’d be competing again after the London Olympics. My dream has become a reality.”

¡Ruth Beitia #Oro  !!!
¡¡¡ Grande!!! pic.twitter.com/vS3PLxv9mM

— Ana Isabel Pérez (@Anai_pb) August 21, 2016

♦

Diver Tom Daley, of Great Britain had a major disappointment when he didn’t qualify for the finals.

After scoring the highest points on Friday’s early qualifiers for the Olympic 10m platform diving competition — and the “highest score ever in an Olympic Games” — Daley couldn’t impress the judges and had to deal with a shocking early elimination.

The 2012 bronze medalist who had already won a medal in Rio (synchronized diving with partner Daniel Goodfellow) was heartbroken.

“I’m in shock right now. I’m the only one who could challenge the Chinese for that gold medal. In the Olympics, you can get your dreams crushed. I’ve been feeling really, really good. In training, everything has been going really well. Right now it’s just kind of heartbreaking to think that it just didn’t happen for me today,” he told reporters after he exited the competition. 

Truly heartbroken. but I will never give up on my dream of being an Olympic champion. pic.twitter.com/lflU8vACod

— Tom Daley (@TomDaley1994) August 20, 2016

♦

In men’s waterpolo, Serbia beat Croatia 11-7 to win gold, and Italy won the bronze medal, after beating Montenegro 12-10.

We don’t like to brag, but we did tell you how hot the Serbian waterpolo team was — in more ways than one — on our Rio 2016 – Day One Report. 

♦

With 27 gold and 66 total medals so far — with at least another one guaranteed: boxer Joe Joyce will fight the super-heavyweight final Sunday — Rio 2016 has been Great Britain’s most successful overseas Olympics ever (Team GB won 146 medals in London 1908). It is also the first time since the modern Olympic era began in 1896 that a country has increased its medal tally at the summer Games immediately following one it hosted, as the BBC pointed out.

Team GB have 66 medals. What a time to be alive! What amazing athletes we have in this little country we have #Olympics #TeamGB

— Scarlett Moffatt (@ScarlettMoffatt) August 21, 2016

How amazing are #teamGB doing ! Proud to be British 🇬🇧

— Duncan James (@MrDuncanJames) August 20, 2016

I am unbelievably proud of Great Britain #Rio2016

— makeup giveaway on! (@Punkedcaniff) August 21, 2016

TeamGB in Rio surpassing London 2012 is a triumph. Will be an ever greater one if this time it can inspire Britain to become more active.

— Dan Roan (@danroan) August 21, 2016

Except for British journalist and Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice winner Piers Morgan, whose tweet about Team GB’s performance has gone viral:

Just can’t get excited by Silver & Bronze medals.
You win or you lose.
Gold is all that matters. #Olympics2016

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) August 10, 2016

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‘Kubo and the Two Strings’, Animation Magic with a Bravely Melancholy Undertow: REVIEW

Kubo and the Two Strings begins with Kubo’s mother, navigating treacherous waves by slicing them in half with one melodramatic strum on her magical shamisen. The instrument has three strings, not two, but the title can wait. It’s time to watch. Kubo’s (Art Parkinson) narration warns us to do so closely.

“If you must blink, do it now.”

That’s a handy if redundant warning because who is going to blink during a Laika movie? The animated studio reliably crafts spectacularly intricate stop motion (with some CG boosting). When Kubo’s mother splits the waves desperate to save the baby in her boat, it was hard not to think of Moses, twice over, both a babe in on the water and an ocean-parter. Religiously suggestive folklore with magic turns out to be perfect fit for Laika because they always bring the eye popping images and movie magic.

We jump ahead a few years to Kubo’s childhood. He’s now a fine storyteller who magically commands origami with his mother’s shamisen to help weave his tales. It doesn’t take a genius to realize that the story he’s repeatedly telling, about a samurai named Hanzo and an evil Moon King is his own (how much so he doesn’t yet fully grasp) and the movie we’re watching is also that story, folding itself into new shapes like the origami.

It’s a pity then that the production is marred by unfortunate voice casting. Animated films have been undermining themselves for some years now with their heavy reliance on famous faces, when what they need is dexterous voices.

McConaughey is funny at times in a dual role but his ultra familiar Texas drawl is quite an uncomfortable fit for an animated Asian story (reminding us frequently that we’re watching yet another movie wherein Asian roles were cast with white actors). Worse still is Charlize Theron, a great actress surely, but she isn’t great because of the timbre of her vocal chords. Her voice work in the film’s most crucial dual role is quite dull. These decidedly unmagical familiar voices do the unusual and mysterious story no good whatsoever.

And besides, who honestly goes to animated movies based on how famous the voices are? They don’t work that way unless it’s a very unique case (like Ellen DeGeneres in Finding Dory) so studios are just wasting their money on huge stars.

The story, too convoluted for its own good perhaps, rescues itself from its arguably clumsy plot and off-voices with intermittent movie magic and interesting characters like a beetle warrior, a bossy monkey, the Moon king and his daughter witches in masks.

Kubo is also blessed with a bravely melancholy undertow that sets it apart yet again from other animated films and actually lets it speak to themes of grief, death, and forgiveness. If you blink towards the final battle, (Kubo did warn you not to) you might miss the title bit when Kubo arms his shamisen with two special strings. It’s a beautifully judged moment, braiding the film’s themes into its climactic set piece.

Laika, the animated studio that brought us Kubo has now made four full length features. The first three Coraline (2009), ParaNorman (2012), and The Boxtrolls (2014) each earned a deserved Oscar nomination for Best Animated Film. They’ve lost to either Pixar and Disney features each time.

Kubo and the Two Strings is magnificent looking but, lacking the instant-hooks and clever conceit of a Zootopia or the behemoth success and easy heart of a Finding Dory, it doesn’t look likely to change Laika’s fate with the public or the Oscars. All things considered, even if I sadly admit that I think it’s the least of their four features, Kubo is another reminder that we need Laika in our movie world. Their commitment to true originality, hands on craftsmanship, and in-movie specificity sets them far apart from all the corporate driven animation moviegoers regularly flock to in much greater numbers and that Oscar regularly rewards.

Like Kubo, this tremendous group of artists are searching and striving to master their considerable magic. One year soon it will be their turn to triumph.

The post ‘Kubo and the Two Strings’, Animation Magic with a Bravely Melancholy Undertow: REVIEW appeared first on Towleroad.

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Stories From the Rio Olympic Games that Warmed Our Hearts

A record number of out athletes participated in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, marking a huge step forward for the LGBTQ community.

LGBTQ visibility in the sports world is on the rise, due in large part due to the brave athletes who have spoken out about who they are, setting an example for LGBTQ youth and people around the globe. While many athletes continue to face discrimination in their sports, several have made the decision to live their truths and pave the way for others to live openly and authentically, both in their personal lives as well as on the field of competition.

As HRC commends these stellar athletes on their incredible athletic achievements over the last two weeks, there were also a few off-the-field stories that warmed our hearts.

Here are a few of our favorite moments from the 2016 Olympics:

Nike Ad Features Trans Athlete
Nike released and prominently featured a powerful new ad throughout the Olympics starring transgender duathlete Chris Mosier. A member of Team USA for the 2016 World Championships, Mosier became the first trans athlete to quality for a U.S. national team. Following a series of questions such as, “How did you know you’d be fast enough? and “How did you know the team would accept you?” the ad ends with two powerful words that embody Mosier and his accomplishments: Unlimited courage.

Put a Ring On It
Love was in the air throughout the Olympic Games in Rio.

After the Brazil women’s rugby team won its ninth-place match over Japan, Brazilian player Isadora Cerullo was in for quite the surprise. Marjorie Enya, Cerullo’s partner and a manager at Deodoro Stadium where Olympic rugby competition took place, grabbed a microphone and delivered an emotional speech before proposing to Cerullo on the field in front of a cheering crowd.

A few days later…

British race walker Tom Bosworth finished sixth in the 20 kilometer walking event, though the highlight of his week was probably what took place after his race. On the popular Copacabana Beach in Rio, Bosworth got down on one knee and proposed to his boyfriend Harry Dineley.

 

He said YES!!! pic.twitter.com/roXsw7oq8f

— Tom Bosworth (@TomBosworth) August 15, 2016

 

Ok then. @TomBosworth x pic.twitter.com/OzGvzTeJkS

— Harry Dineley (@harryd1010) August 15, 2016

 

I Dedicate This Victory to My Beloved
Italy’s Rachele Bruni captured second place in the women’s 10 kilometer swimming marathon earlier this week, making history for Italian athletes shortly thereafter. Following nearly two hours of open water swimming and with a silver medal around her neck, Bruni said, “I dedicate this victory to my family, my coach and my beloved, who have followed and supported me.” Bruni was referring to girlfriend Diletta Faina, who traveled to Rio to support her. According to Yahoo! Sports, Italian media reported that Bruni was the first Italian athlete to openly acknowledge her sexuality.

 

✓ Captured a silver medal.
✓ Captured our hearts.

Congrats, @bruni_rachele & Diletta Faina! #Rio2016t.co/nWTNS8pyUd

— HumanRightsCampaign (@HRC) August 17, 2016

www.hrc.org/blog/stories-from-the-rio-olympic-games-that-warmed-our-hearts?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

LGBT Athletes Win Gold, Silver, and Bronze in Rio

Out athletes all around the world will bring home their bling from Rio. Find out which LGBT athletes took home medals this year.  

www.advocate.com/sports/2016/8/21/lgbt-athletes-bring-home-gold-silver-bronze-rio