‘Dancing with the Stars’ Cast Includes Disgraced Olympian Ryan Lochte, Homophobe Rick Perry: VIDEO

The Season 23 cast of Dancing with the Stars has been announced and includes disgraced Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte and the homophobic former Texas Governor and failed presidential candidate Rick Perry.

ABC:

The others in the cast come from the worlds of TV, music and sports. They are “Brady Bunch” star Maureen McCormick, actress Marilu Henner, singer Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, “Little Women LA” star Terra Jolé, actor Jake T. Austin, former Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson, race car driver James Hinchcliffe and country singer Jana Kramer.

Also, model and actress Amber Rose and ’90s rapper Vanilla Ice.

Pairings are Vanilla Ice and Witney Carson, Calvin Johnson and Lindsay Arnold, Ryan Lochte and Cheryl Burke, Amber Rose and Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Rick Perry and Emma Slater, James Hinchcliffe and Sharna Burgess, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds and Allison Holker, Jake T. Austin and Jenna Johnson, Maureen McCormick and Artem Chigvintsev, Marilu Henner and Derek Hough, Terra Jole and Sasha Farber, Laurie Hernandez and Val Chmerkovskiy, Jana Kramer and Gleb Savchenko.

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Tearful Colton Haynes Accepts HRC Visibility Award, Makes Promise to Future LGBT People: WATCH

Actor Colton Haynes, who came out of the closet just this past May, received the Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award at a gala in Seattle over the weekend. Haynes was emotional throughout his acceptance speech, fighting back tears as he talked about the freedom he has now to be himself.

“I never made a decision to be gay,” said Haynes. “That came just as naturally as the color of my eyes. But, however, it’s up to me to be honest and open with everyone. And that’s why I’m here tonight, and why it’s so special for me.”

RELATED: Colton Haynes Confirms He’s Gay — Officially.

He added: “I’m asked to play so many roles as an actor. But tonight I can actually be myself for the first time. It feels incredible.”

Haynes said he planned to pay it forward:

“I don’t necessarily feel especially deserving of this recognition. We all know there are many other people who have come before me and blazed the trail as LGBT advocates and as role models. And I’m walking in their shoes and I’m following their lead. Instead I’ll accept this award as a promise. And this promise is simple and real. And I’m not making it to you. I’m making it to the next generations of lesbians and gay men, bisexuals, and transgender youth, and I hope my example will give them the confidence and hope to be who they are as well. And for them to conquer their own fears and hesitations. I want to give them just a little more courage to know that they’re loved just as they are.”

He also shared some personal thoughts. He grew up in Kansas and Hot Springs, Arkansas, he is “obsessed with clouds” and was going to be a meteorologist instead of an actor.

And:

“I have many hopes for the future, and many ambitions as an actor and an artist. On a personal note, I have to confess that I also want to raise kids of my own, eventually, maybe half a dozen. Maybe have a basketball team or something like that, but I would love to not raise them alone.”

Watch:

Itay Hod at The Wrap asks whether Haynes should be the recipient of an award just for coming out?

For years, the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBT advocacy group, has presented its Visibility Award to high-profile, positive role models. But the decision to give the award to recently out actor Colton Haynes strikes some activists as premature.

Seeing celebrities come out sends a powerful message to other LGBT people  — especially teens who may feel isolated and alone — that they are part of a community and shared struggle. The question for some activists is whether, in the age of legal same-sex marriage and other advances, coming out should be viewed as something worthy of an award, or as a basic responsibility. They argue that we no longer live in a time when celebrities need to hide their sexuality for fear of career repercussions.

RELATED: ‘Real O’Neals’ Star Noah Galvin Blasts Colton Haynes: ‘That’s Not Coming Out, That’s Pussy Bulls**t’ 

Hod grilled activists, publicists, past HRC members, and other out celebs on whether this kind of award should be given to a newly-out celeb like Haynes, and most agree that large lobbying organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign use celebs – especially those with a vast social media reach like Haynes – as a tool to fundraise and raise awareness at the same time:

“Attaching a celebrity to the awards gets more eyeballs and attention to the topic,” Scott Martin, who was an active member of HRC Seattle for years, told TheWrap. “It gets more people to talk about it and tweet about it. Colton’s peers, who may still be in the closet, may see the embrace Colton gets and perhaps be inspired to do the same.”

“It’s not about the award,” celebrity blogger and activist Perez Hilton told TheWrap. “It’s about Colton giving of his time and allowing HRC to use his name and likeness to sell tickets and fundraise. He’s directly doing good for the entire LGBT community by agreeing to accept this ‘award.’ They call it an award but it’s really an arrangement. ‘This is how you can help us!’ I’m glad he said yes!”

Read Hod’s full story HERE.

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Virginia School District Asks SCOTUS To Back Transgender Bathroom Ban: VIDEO

A Virginia school district has petitioned the US Supreme Court to overturn a lower court’s decision to allow transgender students to use bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity.

As we reported earlier…

The case in question is centered on transgender teen Gavin Grimm, who sued the Gloucester County school board for the right to use school bathrooms and facilities that match his gender identity. The 4th Circuit ruled in favor of Grimm in April, declaring that denying Grimm the right to use the boys’ bathroom violates Title IX of the Education Act of 1972. Title IX bans discrimination based on sex.

The 4th Circuit’s ruling is being closely watched given that it has jurisdiction over North Carolina, which this year passed HB 2, a bill that made it illegal for transgender people to use bathrooms matching their gender identity.

This is the first time the Supreme Court has weighed in on the transgender bathroom war.

Buzzfeed‘s Chris Geidner reports:

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court issued an order allowing the school to keep its policy in place while the justices decide whether to hear the appeal. If the justices agree to hear the appeal, per the earlier order, the court’s order allowing the policy to stay in place will remain in effect until the justices reach a decision in the case.

The student, Gavin Grimm, is represented by the ACLU. The Obama administration, through interpretation of existing laws and regulations, has determined that the sex discrimination ban in Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 includes a ban on anti-transgender discrimination.

RELATED: SCOTUS Blocks Transgender Teen from Using Boys’ Bathroom During Appeal

The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals held that the administration’s interpretation was a permissible interpretation, leading the district court in Grimm’s case to issue an injunction against Gloucester schools. The Supreme Court’s order, however, stayed that injunction for the time being — meaning Grimm, and any other transgender student, could not use the restroom that accords with their gender identity.

The lawyers for the school district frame the case as one not about transgender rights, but rather one about “agency behavior” in setting policies such as the Title IX interpretation advanced by the Obama administration…

Geidner adds:

The current composition of the Supreme Court — it has operated with only eight justices since Antonin Scalia’s death in February — could become a key factor in what happens next with the case.

It takes four justices to grant the certiorari petition and hear an appeal. It takes five votes, however, to reach a majority opinion. If the court accepted the case, and split down ideological grounds 4–4, the lower court’s decision in favor of Grimm and the administration would be left in place — but no national precedent would be set by the case.

Watch an interview with Grimm below.

(Image via Twitter)

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Clinton, Trump: We're Ready for Your LGBT Appointments

Activist Mark Segal wants the candidates to choose at least one out LGBT person for their cabinet.

www.advocate.com/election/2016/8/30/clinton-trump-were-ready-your-lgbt-appointments

LGBTQ People of Color in the Leather/Fetish Scene (Photos)

www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/2016/8/30/lgbtq-people-color-leatherfetish-scene-photos

Would Proposed Gun Laws Make Us Any Safer?

Life for members of the LGBT communities is remarkably dangerous. Would proposed gun laws make us any safer?

www.advocate.com/politics/2016/8/30/would-proposed-gun-laws-make-us-any-safer