Monthly Archives: August 2016



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NEWS

#AM_Equality Tip Sheet: August 10, 2016

#AM_Equality Tip Sheet: August 10, 2016

BREAKING: TROUBLE FOR NC GOV. MCCRORY, HB2 IN NORTH CAROLINA: A Public Policy Poll released today shows that deeply discriminatory HB2 law attacking transgender North Carolinians, continues to damage Gov. Pat McCrory and the state’s economy. A majority of respondents — 58 percent — say the HB2 is hurting NC, and, by a 12-point margin, voters say McCrory’s handling of the issue makes them less likely to vote for him. Read the full poll here.

DOZENS OF COACHES SAY NCAA BAN TOURNEY:  The majority of NCAA coaches who responded to a new CBS Poll, said the association should ban future tournaments in North Carolina until the discriminatory HB2 law is repealed. The NCAA recently announced that cities bidding to host championship games must submit a survey detailing their non-discrimination laws. One coach who was interviewed had this to say, “The NCAA is supposed to be about developing future leaders. What a way to set the tone on leadership and standing up for what is right.” More from CBS Sports.

HRC BLASTS TRUMP AND RUBIO FOR COURTING ANTI-LGBTQ ACTIVISTS IN FLA: HRC slammed GOP Presidential nominee Donald Trump and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FLA) for announcing they will campaign with anti-LGBTQ activists in Orlando tomorrow. “Just when you think Donald Trump and Marco Rubio couldn’t go any lower, they announce plans to court anti-LGBTQ activists in Orlando. On Thursday, Donald Trump and Marco Rubio are going to seek votes from people who fundamentally believe we are not equal, who support dangerous and harmful conversion therapy and who have worked to export anti-LGBTQ hate abroad, said HRC Senior Vice President of Policy and Political Affairs JoDee Winterhof. “Donald Trump would put at risk all the progress the LGBTQ community has made over the last eight years and we know all too well that Marco Rubio — who has refused to stand up for LGBTQ Floridians time and again — would be his loyal accomplice. Because of elected officials like Marco Rubio, LGBTQ Floridians remain at risk of being fired or denied a job because of who they are or whom they love.” More from Bloomberg and HRC.

CLAPBACK OF THE DAY: Earlier this week, Bill Maher made disgraceful comments about trans rights, suggesting that they should take a “back seat” during the presidential election — despite more than 50 bills filed in 20 states across the country that targeted transgender people, as well as the heinous anti-transgender rhetoric spewed by candidates up and down the ballot. HRC’s Sarah McBride had a few choice words for Maher:

CALL IT OUT: U.S. Air Force Chief of Chaplains, Maj. Gen. Dondi E. Costin, was a featured speaker at a notoriously anti-LGBTQ event hosted by the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty (CARL), at which he appeared in uniform in apparent violation of military regulations. CARL was formed to oppose the repeal of the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” More from The Huffington Post.

AUSTRALIAN ADVOCATES STILL OPPOSE MARRIAGE VOTE: LGBTQ advocates in Australia continue to urge Parliament to say no to holding a popular referendum on marriage equality. Australian LGBTQ leader Michael Kirby wrote in a local op-ed, “Defeat in a plebiscite on same-sex marriage would kill the reform, probably for decades… A defeat in Parliament alone would do no more than delay the inevitable for a short time.” More from The Associated Press.

LGBTQ ARAB ADVOCATES TO MEET IN DELAWARE: In a first-of-its-kind meeting, LGBTQ advocates from Lebanon, Syria, Sudan, Egypt, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and the Gaza Strip will meet in Rehoboth Beach to discuss advocacy around LGBTQ issues. More from The Washington Blade.

READING RAINBOW

Billboard takes a look at a LGBTQ-focused fundraiser for Hillary Clinton featuring legend Barbra Streisand; Extra! Extra! Patch West Hollywood reports that a new LGBTQ newspaper is launching in WeHo; The Atlantic profiles Serbia’s first openly-gay government minister; The Advocate harnesses the power of being an out entrepreneur; ICYMI, Upworthy shares nine photos of Olympic rugby player Isabelle Cerullo accepting her girlfriend’s proposal after Monday’s final rugby match; Slate describes the ‘in-between-y’ feelings during early stages of transitioning; Mic has the trailer for Whoopi Goldberg’s new reality show — and it features five transgender models; and Cronkite News meets the foster children in a group home that serves LGBTQ youth.

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!

www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-tip-sheet-august-10-2016?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

NEWS

Because Love ALWAYS Wins!

Because Love ALWAYS Wins!
63908_medium“I wanted to be part of this amazing campaign, because I want to show the world that love is the answer, and that people should never give up on love! I met my wife on a website in 2012. I lived in Brazil (I’m Brazilian), and she lived in the US (she is American). We dated long-distance for two years, just spending a few days together in quarterly visits – and it wasn’t

www.noh8campaign.com/article/because-love-always-wins

NEWS

In historic step, Belize court scraps law targeting gay and bisexual men

In historic step, Belize court scraps law targeting gay and bisexual men

GLAAD

A law in Belize that disproportionately affects gay men was today ruled unconstitutional by the country’s Supreme Court after a three-year wait for the judgment.

Section 53 of Belize’s Criminal Code, an old British colonial law, banned ‘carnal intercourse against the order of nature’ and thereby made relationships between adult men in private illegal in Belize. Today, the provision has been ruled ‘unlawful’ to the extent that it can be applied to same-sex activity.

“With this ruling, Belize provides a ray of hope and a path forward for the global LGBT community, especially throughout the Caribbean,” said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “This is an important step forward that we hope will continue to build momentum and advance acceptance in 76 countries around the globe that criminalize LGBT people. Our communities – no matter where they live – deserve their identities to be affirmed and their lives protected from violence, hate, and discrimination – especially from their governments.”

The case is the culmination of years of work by a Caribbean-led coalition of LGBT advocates, academics and legal experts. Plaintiff Caleb Orozco, a Belizean gay man and prominent LGBT rights advocate, launched the case against his country’s government represented by the Attorney General.

Today Orozco said:

“This is the first day of my life in which it is legal for me to be me. This is a history-making judgment for Belize, the country which I am proud to call home. Our judicial system has been proven to be robust and unprejudiced. This judgment should give other oppressed groups the confidence to speak up and stand up for themselves in situations of human rights abuse in the way I have. Our courts really are there to protect us all. In striking down Section 53, Belize has also rejected a poisonous remnant of colonial rule. Instead we have reaffirmed ourselves as a society built on dignity and respect for all our people. This is a proud day.”

Orozco’s case was heard in May 2013. Today’s ruling – some three years and two months later – upholds Belize’s LGBT community’s human rights to privacy, equality, dignity and non-discrimination, all of which are protected under the country’s constitution.

While convictions under Section 53 in Belize were rare, the law carried a sentence of up ten years’ imprisonment effectively for consensual relationships between men.

There are still 76 legal jurisdictions across the world that make it a crime to be LGBT. Of these, 38 countries are, like Belize, members of the British Commonwealth.

The tweets below provide highlights from Human Dignity Trust and Belizian LGBT advocates:

Belize: 1st hurdle cleared in @UNIBAMSupport‘s #orozcocase – Petitioner has locus standi (the right) to bring an action such as this case

— Human Dignity Trust (@HumanDignityT) August 10, 2016

Section 53 of the Belize Criminal Code has been deemed unconstitutional #OrozcoCase

— GoodityOnFleek (@GlenDivo) August 10, 2016

The law has been found in breach of the rights to privacy, equality, human dignity and freedom of expression #OrozcoCase

— GoodityOnFleek (@GlenDivo) August 10, 2016

Section 53 has been modified to no longer criminalize consensual sex between adults. #OrozcoCase

— GoodityOnFleek (@GlenDivo) August 10, 2016

We won on all counts. Speechless. Omg. Speechless

— UniBAM Belize (@UNIBAMSupport) August 10, 2016

#Belize: Chief Justice rules in favor of Caleb Orozco #LoveFM #Belice #Biz #LGBT pic.twitter.com/GysCYu6zid

— Mardo A. L. Urbina (@MALUrbina) August 10, 2016

Looking forward to a discussion of what the #OrozcoCase ruling could mean for the rest of the Caribbean. If it means anything at all…

— Jherane – YDRIL (@Jherane_) August 10, 2016

The chief justice of Belize. Kenneth Benjamin have found that section 53 of the criminal code is unconstitutional and must be struck down.

— UniBAM Belize (@UNIBAMSupport) August 10, 2016

Caleb won his challenge to the Belize anti-sodomy law on all counts and was awarded costs! VICTORY for the Caribbean pic.twitter.com/8Aw39j2phH

— Maurice Tomlinson (@mauricetom2) August 10, 2016

August 10, 2016
Issues: 
Tags: 

www.glaad.org/blog/historic-step-belize-court-scraps-law-targeting-gay-and-bisexual-men

MISC

Colton Haynes: ‘I Feel Really Bad I Had to Lie For So Long’

Colton Haynes: ‘I Feel Really Bad I Had to Lie For So Long’

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Recently out actor Colton Haynes is opening up on coming out, anxiety, dating, growing up gay in Kansas, and those comments by Real O’Neals star Noah Galvin.

In a candid interview with OUT magazine, Haynes says that hiding his sexual orientation for so many years increased the anxiety he has dealt with most of his life. Haynes says that his decision to remain publicly in the closet was motivated by advice from managers and agents in the entertainment industry who told him that coming out would be bad for his career.

Said Haynes,

“I feel really bad that I had to lie for so long…But I was told that was the only way I was going to be successful. When you’re young in this industry, people take advantage of you, and they literally tell you that your dreams are going to come true. If you believe that, you’ll do anything. And you do believe it, especially if you’re from Kansas.”

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

Haynes’ life has been somewhat chaotic in recent years, having ended a six-year relationship after he discovered his boyfriend was regularly cheating on him, endured “regular bouts of panic-induced vomiting on set”, made an unplanned departure from the CW show Arrow, and dealt with a stomach ulcer.

Perhaps one of the ironies about Haynes remaining publicly in the closet for so long is that he came out to his family and friends at a relatively young age. Something not necessarily easy to do in rural Kansas, where Haynes grew up:

He describes his hometown as a place where “you just couldn’t be gay,” and though he’d known he liked boys since he was in first grade, everything changed when he came out to classmates and family at age 14. The bullying escalated to the point that Haynes’s older brother Clinton would meet him outside of class to protect him. (Haynes is one of six, with brother Clinton and four half siblings.) At home, Haynes’s mom, Dana, was both blindsided and dismayed by her son’s announcement. His response was to rebel. A year of exploration—in which he lost his virginity to both sexes—also became one rife with drug experimentation. He ran away from home for three weeks and bunked in a friend’s closet. He was there when an estranged relative called to tell him that his father, William, had committed suicide by swallowing roughly 40 oxycodone pills.

“I’m the last person in the world who would say, ‘Oh, my dad—pity me,’” says Haynes, whose father, seven times married, split from Dana and was never close with him. “But I was told that my dad killed himself because he found out I was gay. So, of course, I lost it and was like, ‘How could you say something like that?’ And no one will ever really know the truth. But my brother and my mom went to pick up my dad’s stuff, and the only picture on his fridge was my eighth-grade graduation picture. So I was just like, F[*]ck.”

02-colton-haynes_0Haynes also addressed his infamous XY magazine shoot, which he did with his then-high-school-boyfriend. Haynes viewed the photo-shoot as his ticket to a career in the entertainment industry. He didn’t expect that it would become an albatross he would carry around his neck for years to come. Haynes says that the legal action taken on his behalf demanding that gay blogs take down photos from that shoot (which happened around the time Haynes appeared on MTV’s Teen Wolf) was the doing of his ‘team.’

Haynes explains,

“I looked like I was f*cking gay-bashing. Like I hated myself or I hated the gays, which was never the intention at all. I was just young and trying to make it in this town and doing what these people were telling me to do.”

Haynes also says his first manager dropped him from his roster for being gay and suggested he post an ad on the now defunct Rentboy.com to make extra money. Advice he didn’t take.

Instagram Photo

 

As for comments that Real O’Neals star Noah Galvin recently made, criticizing how Haynes came out (“That’s pussy bulls*t”), Haynes feels Galvin’s remarks were out of line:

“I said I was gay, like, 50 times during that interview,” Haynes insists. “That’s just not the way they chose to print it. I would never try to hold that back, especially for my first out interview.”

Haynes was mostly surprised by Galvin’s comments. “When I came out, Noah tweeted, ‘Welcome to the family,’ and ‘So proud of you,’ ” Haynes says. “I have the tweets saved on my phone. Then, all of a sudden, I’m the worst, I’m a terrible person, and I’m a shame to the gay community. I think just having enough nerve and guts to come out in any way is a lot. It was really an emotional thing for me. And for that to be discredited by someone who has never met me was upsetting. He has no idea what I’ve been through. And I can’t sit here and have a conversation about Noah because I don’t know him either.” Galvin was unavailable for comment for this story, but his reps did offer to share his subsequent public apology, which is one thing Haynes has no qualms critiquing. “I think anyone in their right mind would call bullshit on that,” he says.

PREVIOUSLY: Colton Haynes Claps Back at Noah Galvin: ‘When Did He Become The Judge of What’s Appropriate?’

And though Haynes is now publicly out and feeling more free than ever, he isn’t necessarily focused on dating. And he says his love life isn’t that exciting. Says Haynes, “I haven’t had sex in—I couldn’t tell you how long.”

You can read the rest of Haynes’ interview with OUT here.

[Photos via OUT]

The post Colton Haynes: ‘I Feel Really Bad I Had to Lie For So Long’ appeared first on Towleroad.



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NEWS

Giuliani: Trump Supporters Would Have ‘Gone Wild’ If He Had Called for Assassination of Clinton – WATCH

Giuliani: Trump Supporters Would Have ‘Gone Wild’ If He Had Called for Assassination of Clinton – WATCH

Screen Shot 2016-08-10 at 8.16.58 AM 1

Donald Trump supporter and former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani again tried to defend Trump’s “2nd Amendment” remarks that he made in North Carolina on Tuesday, saying that if Trump had really called for the assassination of Hillary Clinton the crowd assembled at his rally would have “gone wild.”

RELATED – Trump Suggests Assassination is the Only Way to Stop Clinton: WATCH

Giuliani told George Stephanopoulos on Wednesday, “What he intended was, that they should vote against her…With a crowd like that, if that’s what they thought he meant, they would’ve gone wild.”

Stephanopoulos quickly interjected, “We did see that one guy behind him.”

‘That one guy’ Stephanopoulos was referring to can be seen in this video appearing taken aback by what Trump has just said about ‘2nd Amendment people’ stopping a President Hillary Clinton from appointing liberal justices to the Supreme Court.

Also in the interview, Giuliani attempted to blame the controversy on the “Clinton machine.” He told Stephanopoulos, “I’d like the people at home to realize is, the first time any of had any idea that that was the way it was interpreted was when the Clinton machine interpreted it that way.”

Never mind the fact that countless Twitter users immediately viewed Trump’s remarks as calling for the assassination of Clinton, long before the Clinton campaign could put out a statement.

Of course, if you’ve been following along with the Trump campaign’s vitriolic rhetoric, Trump’s suggestion that “2nd Amendment people” assassinate Hillary Clinton is just the latest, albeit most flabbergasting, comment in a string of comments that suggest Trump has no problem inciting violence.

ThinkProgress reports: 

Attendees of last month’s Republican National Convention were able to purchase merchandise calling Clinton a “bitch” and a “tramp,” while on the convention floor they repeatedly chanted for her to be imprisoned. During a radio interview from the RNC, Trump adviser Al Baldasaro openly called for Clinton to be executed. Though the remark prompted Baldasaro to be investigated by the Secret Service, Trump has refused to sever ties with him. In fact, during a rally last weekend, Trump gave Baldasaro a shout-out, saying he’s “been so great.”

Watch Giuliani try to defend Trump, below.

The post Giuliani: Trump Supporters Would Have ‘Gone Wild’ If He Had Called for Assassination of Clinton – WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.



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NEWS

“Today” In Supreme Awkwardness: Al Roker And Co. Smear Lotion All Over Studly Tongan Olympian

“Today” In Supreme Awkwardness: Al Roker And Co. Smear Lotion All Over Studly Tongan Olympian

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Despite no shortage of seriously stiff competition, Pita Nikolas Aufatofua of Tonga is being roundly hailed as the heartthrob of the Olympics. Nevertheless, that’s really no reason for Today Show host Al Roker to sic news anchor Hoda Kotb and (urk!) Jenna friggin’ Bush on the 32-year-old taekwondo fighter.

Related: Testing The Limits Of Swimwear: A Sexy, Scandalous Night Of The Olympics In Pics

Both women take it upon themselves to languidly smooth baby lotion all over his pecs in a 51 second clip that seems to drag on for a cringe-inducing eternity as Aufatofua achieves otherworldly levels of glistening sheen. Only slightly terrifyingly, the girls subsequently wipe any residual lotion onto their own arms, perhaps hoping his vital essence will rub off on them/absorb into them.

Related: PHOTOS: Let’s Take A Moment To Appreciate Olympic Swimmer Amini Fonua’s Instagram

Meanwhile, Aufatofua tries to be the perfect gentleman, flashing the most athletically awkward frozen smile this side of Jack Nicholson at the end of The Shining. 

Watch all the awkwardness unfold here:

18ojoy-1

Comments about how jealous we are commencing in one… two…

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NEWS

LGBTQ Rights Groups Ask Big 12 Not To Include BYU Over Discriminatory Policies

LGBTQ Rights Groups Ask Big 12 Not To Include BYU Over Discriminatory Policies

BYU football

BYU football stadium. Photo by Bobak Ha’Eri, CC 2.5.

25 LGBTQ rights groups have sent a letter to commissioner Bob Bowlsby asking the Big 12 not to considering Brigham Young University as part of its conference expansion due to its discriminatory policies.

The letter was authored by Athlete Ally and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. It was co-signed by 23 other national and regional advocacy groups, including GLAAD, Lambda Legal, National LGBTQ Task Force, Campus Pride and TransAthlete.com.

Related: Nike Ad Championing Trans Athlete Drops During The Olympics

BYU is owned and operated by the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The school’s Honor Code says that students are allowed to have “feelings or attraction” but only so long as they remain celibate.

“Homosexual behavior is inappropriate and violates the Honor Code,” it reads. “Homosexual behavior includes not only sexual relations between members of the same sex, but all forms of physical intimacy that give expression to homosexual feelings.”

Students who run afoul of the Honor Code can expect to be suspended or dismissed.

The Big 12’s handbook has a “Policy On Diversity” section that reads, in part, “It is the obligation of each Member Institution to refrain from discrimination prohibited by federal and state law, and to demonstrate a commitment to fair and equitable treatment of all student-athletes and athletics department personnel.”

It also states that the Conference will, “encourage an atmosphere throughout the Conference among staff and student-athletes that demonstrates respect and support for each individual. As such, within the context of Conference events, the Conference will not tolerate disparaging comments, remarks, or jokes about any group of people including racist, sexist, or homophobic comments, remarks, or jokes.”

Related: BYU Students Who Made “It Gets Better” Video Won’t Get Expelled As Long As They Don’t Have Gay Sex

The letter from the LGBTQ rights organizations reflects this disparity.

“Currently, the Big 12 as a conference is overwhelmingly LGBT-inclusive,” it reads. “Nine out of ten of your member schools have explicit protections for students based on their sexual orientation. Eight out of ten of your member schools have explicit protections for students based on their gender identity. And nine out of ten of your member schools have LGBT resource centers to proactively make their schools safe and welcoming for LGBT people.

“BYU, conversely, actively and openly discriminates against its LGBT students and staff. It provides no protections for LGBT students. In fact, through its policies, BYU is very clear about its intent to discriminate against openly LGBT students, with sanctions that can include suspension or dismissal for being openly LGBT or in a same-sex relationship. The LGBT climate is so bad at BYU that it is ranked the 6th worst school in the country for LGBT students. Given BYU’s homophobic, biphobic and transphobic policies and practices, BYU should not be rewarded with Big 12 membership.”

A Big 12 spokesperson told FOX Sports that their policy on diversity includes LGBTQ students.

Related: BYU Students Recovering After Horrifying Same-Sex Marriage Cards Appear On Bookstore Shelves

While Utah passed a law last year prohibiting housing and employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, there is a religious carve out that allows institutions like BYU to be excluded.

The Big 12 includes two religious universities already, Baylor, a Baptist University, and TCU, affiliated with Disciples of Christ. Baylor removed antigay language from their sexual misconduct policy last year. It now simply states that “physical sexual intimacy is to be expressed in the context of marital fidelity.” It also reads as being against same-sex marriage, as it states that its policies “will be interpreted by the University in a manner consistent with the Baptist Faith and Message of 1963,” which defines marriage as between one man and one woman.

TCU has a non-discrimination policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

BYU expressed interest in joining the Big 12 once it became public that the Conference would expand. Cincinnati, Colorado State, Connecticut, Houston, Memphis, UCF and USF are also considered possibilities.

The Big 12 has not publicly stated when they expect to announce which teams they will add, but could bring in anywhere from two to four schools. The decision may come before the board’s next meeting in October.

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