Brian Justin Crum, Scruff, Debate Prep, Keith Lamont Scott, Lady Gaga, Jake Gyllenhaal’s Bush: HOT LINKS

ORLANDO. America’s Got Talent singer Brian Justin Crum to perform at Come Out with Pride Orlando on Oct. 8: “Crum joins a lineup at COWP that includes actress Michelle Clunie (Queer as Folk, Teen Wolf, The Usual Suspects), actor Peter Paige (Queer as Folk, co-creator: The Fosters), cast from The Fosters, Tony Award winners Michael Cerveris (Fun Home, The Good Wife, Fringe) and Alice Ripley (Next to Normal), comedian Matteo Lane (Nightly Show, Late Night with Seth Meyers), comedienne, speaker and activist Sabrina Jalees (writer: NBC’s Crowded; Transparent, AfterEllen; Tedx), singers Eli Lieb & Brandon Skeie (singers/songwriters, “Pulse”) and RJ Aguiar & Will Shepherd (YouTube celebrity vloggers “Shep689”).”

PNP. Gay dating app Scruff bans users from using the word “party” in their profiles, though unclear if this is just in the UK: “The policy came to light after one of Scruff’s users, Nigel Whitfield, attempted to write in his profile that he is a supporter of the Labour party, Britain’s main opposition political party, but was blocked from doing so by the app. Scruff, which has over 6 million users, then sent Whitfield an email entitled ‘Profile Content Warning’ which highlighted the offending word – ‘party’ – and warned him to ‘be advised the term(s) above may be considered by US law enforcement agencies to be ‘code words’ frequently used to signal interest in drug use and abuse.’ It continued: ‘Using Scruff for this purpose is strictly forbidden, and reports of such behavior are taken seriously and thoroughly investigated.’”

(c) The Bob Mizer Foundation, Inc.

THE MALE FORM. Meet the photographer behind the first gay men’s magazine, Bob Mizer: “Mizer came out to his mother in the thirties, when he was a teen-ager, refusing to ask a date to the prom and taking up nude sunbathing on the garage roof. His notion of gayness was informed by a “Code of Behavior” that he recorded in his high-school diary: “More masculine at all times.” Among his models were the gay and the straight, professional bodybuilders and professional beach bums, college students and returnees from the European front. They assembled in his studio, before backdrops of Greco-Roman splendor and the Midwestern prairie, stripping down, oiling up, and—this being long before the full-frontal seventies—putting on silken posing straps, a kind of antique G-string.”

WATCH. President Obama gives Hillary debate advice: “Be yourself and explain what motivates you. Because, I will tell you, I’ve gotten to know Hillary, and seen her work, and seen her in tough times and in good times. She’s in this for the right reasons. I think there’s a reason why we haven’t had a woman president before, and so she’s having to break down some barriers. There is a level of mistrust and a caricature of her that just doesn’t jibe with who I know, this person that cares deeply about kids.”

BRANGELINA. Brad Pitt has gotten himself a divorce attorney and plans to seek joint custody of the children he shares with Angelina Jolie.

HIRSUTE. Tom Ford reveals some intimate details about his Nocturnal Animals star Jake Gyllenhaal: “’If you like the chest, you should see what’s down here,’ he said with a grin. ‘There is no mlnscaping.’ Ford repeated it for emphasis: ‘There is no mlnscaping.’”

CELEBRITY INSTAGRAM. Zachary Quinto, Shawn Mendes, Hugh Jackman, Michael Phelps, Nick Jonas, and more. 

ENDORSEMENTS. Cincinnati Enquirer endorses Hillary Clinton, first democrat they have endorses since 1916: “The Enquirer has supported Republicans for president for almost a century – a tradition this editorial board doesn’t take lightly,” the board began in its editorial. “But this is not a traditional race, and these are not traditional times.”

CHARLOTTE. News outlets obtain footage of the moments before the deadly police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in North Carolina: The video, taken by Scott’s wife, does not clearly show the exact moment he was shot by police on Tuesday. Scott is seen on the ground surrounded by police officers moments after the shots were fired.

POLITICAL LEANINGS. Did Caitlyn Jenner try to convince Kim Kardashian she should vote for Donald Trump?

MUSIC. Lady Gaga reveals Joanne track list.

LADY GAGA / #JOANNE / OCT 21
DELUXE & STANDARD TRACKLISTS + CD LABEL pic.twitter.com/E4qwmZZCx1

— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) September 23, 2016

INSTAHUNK. Muscle enthusiast Onome Egger.

The post Brian Justin Crum, Scruff, Debate Prep, Keith Lamont Scott, Lady Gaga, Jake Gyllenhaal’s Bush: HOT LINKS appeared first on Towleroad.

Brian Justin Crum, Scruff, Debate Prep, Keith Lamont Scott, Lady Gaga, Jake Gyllenhaal’s Bush: HOT LINKS

Bi the Numbers: This Vlogger Breaks Down Surprising Statistics about the Bisexual Community – WATCH

YouTuber RJ Aguiar takes a look at some important statistics about the bisexual community in his latest video released to coincide with national Bi Visibility Week.

Said Aguiar, who is bisexual,

“Bi people have issues that we’re faced with every day, as individuals and as a community. But the thing is, most people out there don’t know that. Not even a lot of bi people know just how bad the situation is for members of my community. I’ve been making bi videos for a little over two years now. Since then, I’ve also gotten pretty involved with the bi community at large and had the pleasure of working with a bunch of various bi groups, and yet even I didn’t know how bad the situation was until recently.”

Aguiar explains that, when compared with their gay, lesbian and straight peers, bi people face a higher risk of assault and sexual violence, suffer higher rates of discrimination, are more likely to live in poverty, and are more likely to suffer mental health issues and physical health issues.

RELATED – Vlogger RJ Aguiar Answers Questions About Being A ‘Bi Guy’: VIDEO

Also, bi people actually make up the largest portion of the LGBT+ population. Yet they receive the least amount of funding dedicated specifically to issues affecting their community.

Did you also know that Bi+ people are less likely to graduate high school and have health insurance? #BiVisibilityDay

— RJ Aguiar (@rj4gui4r) September 23, 2016

Aguiar hopes that spreading information about bi issues will help lead to positive change . “Hopefully, if we can educate people about some of these bi issues, we can finally begin to address them,” he says.

The post Bi the Numbers: This Vlogger Breaks Down Surprising Statistics about the Bisexual Community – WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.

Bi the Numbers: This Vlogger Breaks Down Surprising Statistics about the Bisexual Community – WATCH

LGBT Voters Favor Clinton Over Trump by Wide Margin: POLL 

A new NBC News/SurveyMonkey poll has found that a large majority of LGBT voters support Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump.

According to a tracking poll conducted over two weeks, from September 5 through September 18, 72% of LGBT voters would vote for Clinton if the election were held today, while 20% would vote for Trump.

In a four way race involving Libertarian Gary Johnson and Green Party candidate Jill Stein, Clinton still maintains a vast lead with 63% of the LGBT vote. Trump gets 15%, Johnson gets 13% and Stein gets 8%.

LGBT voters have traditionally favored the Democratic party, though Donald Trump has attempted to make in-roads with LGBT voters this cycle by saying he is a friend to ‘the gays.’

According to this new poll, LGBT voters do not appear to have taken Trump’s bait.

And LGBT voters could play a crucial role in the election, as NBC News explains: 

In past elections, LGBT voters have played an important role. According to results from the 2012 NBC News Exit Polls, 5 percent of voters identified as gay, lesbian or bisexual** and 76 percent voted for Barack Obama. Voters who did not identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual were split—49 percent voted for Obama and 49 percent voted for Romney.

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LGBT Voters Favor Clinton Over Trump by Wide Margin: POLL 

Spitting Is Too Much To Swallow On ‘Finding Prince Charming’ [RECAP]

As much as I hate every single moment watching this sentient pile of jockstraps hurl themselves at Robert Sepulveda Jr., I have to admit that watching the boys in the house start to turn against each other this week was oddly satisfying. Much in the same way I watch Real Housewives for the bloodsport of it all, watching the manicured claws come out added a desperately needed dose of drama.

That doesn’t mean any of the characters have made themselves more likable or compelling. Oh, no. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Let’s start with Chad. He’s the weasel-faced lech that allegedly made a move on another guy last week. He’s fresh off his near-elimination and boo-hooing in the house, ready to cry himself to sleep in his formalwear. I get how stressful the reality-TV production schedule could be and how out of your element you get and how upsetting it can be, but, um, get it together, bro. You’re still here.

The next morning Lance shows up at the house to play a little game with the guys. Now, I’m not entirely sure what the point of any of this is, but they’re going to play a game about the five senses and the luck of the draw. Basically, each dude picks a card (any card) and it has one of the five senses on it. Then, the guys with the “taste” cards and the guys with “touch” cards get to go on dates. It is honestly the least exciting, fun, interesting or logical game I could ever imagine. Does it even actually count as a “game,” per se? What did I just watch? Clearly, no one got the common sense card.

The “touch” boys get their date first, and it goes to Justin (the Frankie Grande knock-off) and Sam (the sweaty bully that yelled at Robby to fix his dress in episode one). They’re doing something called acrobatic yoga with Robert, which is honestly just like playing with a toddler, I guess. You just take turns playing airplane, balancing the guy on your feet as you lay on your back. Very cool, sexy date. Very into acroyo-play.

Sam is predictably terrible and sweaty at this. At one point he actually drops Robert, which I believe takes more effort than doing these moves properly. His one-on-one time with Robert is equally clumsy and sweaty. Robert wants to pry Sam about what’s going on with Dillon and the resulting conversation is tense and sweaty. Sam is a sweaty guy, both physically and, like, spiritually.

Justin has an easier time giving Robert an acrobatic yo-job, but their alone time is surprisingly awkward. All that chemistry they had at the perfume place seems to have evaporated into a wisp of Chanel No. 5. Instead, they amble around a stable. I thought things couldn’t get more unoriginal than when Robert asks Justin what he would name his horse and Justin says, no lie, “Black Beauty.” But! Then! Justin asks Robert what he would name his horse, and Robert says BLACK BEAUTY AS WELL. I would’ve given anything for a stampede, honestly. I hope they both hop on their horses and ride themselves back to Garbage Town where they belong.

The other group date is at a winery with Chad, Dillon, Paul and Danique. Now, according to my theory, in which the guys are being eliminated in descending order of body fat percentage, Danique is on the chopping block. It’s a real shame, because the more camera time they give this boy, the more I start to like him. He’s got chutzpah. He’s got moxie. He’s got a personality. He’s also got pretty lousy luck in love, which makes me want to pull for him even more. Sadly, it’s pretty clear during his time with Robert that these guys aren’t a match.

Chad and Paul make a better impression, but it’s Dillon who has the most memorable exchange. The guy is practically throwing himself at Robert. He’s so thirsty, I’m half-expecting him to turn into dust at any given moment. Robert tries to feel him out after that weird rant Dillon went on last week, but Dillon completely misreads the moment and goes in for a kiss that is so, so poorly-timed and inappropriate. It was cringe-worthy. Robert didn’t yell “I need an adult,” exactly, but he was blinking “S.O.S.” in Morse code, I think.

Paul gets the idea to invite Robert back to the house where everyone is already deep in the bottle and simmering in the hot tub. Robert asks to see Paul’s bedroom, which sounds scandalous, but really he just ends up listening to Paul drone on about his dead partner again. Sorry if that’s insensitive (it is), but like, as a viewer, I’ve heard this story like three times already. We get it! The big takeaway here is that Robert and Paul kiss, and it’s, um, more “passionate” than the kiss Robert had with Justin in so much as their tongues are actually visible slapping against each other outside their mouths. Hey, I love watching dudes makeout. Love it. But this was nauseating. In the immortal words of Valerie Cherish, “I don’t want to see that!”

Dillon is frantic in his pursuit to right his wrong with Robert, but he just keeps making things worse. He scampers into the house to throw on his swim trunks, obviously trying to set a thirst trap, but then he pulls Robert over by the bar, away from all the fun in the hot tub. Once “alone” Dillon unloads some Lady Macbeth-level paranoia about the other guys in the house, especially Sam. It’s all very … animated. The guys spot the frenzy from across the patio and Sam knows he’s talking smack.

That’s when Sam unleashes the Kraken that apparently was living deep within him, and it essentially destroys all the good vibes in the hot tub. Justin attempts to talk some sense into Sam, but to no avail. Then Chad chimes in, and that really pushes Sam over the edge. Robby, bless him, is just sitting in the hot tub, sipping on his chardonnay or whatever; he’s not egging anybody on, but he’s also not trying to clean up this mess. He knows what he’s doing, and I sort of love him for it.

As Dillon continues to sputter and flail at Robert, Prince Charming is eyeing the exit. He leaves for the night just as Sam goes nuclear. Sam chases Dillon up the stairs, yells in his face, calls him a sheep, a snake and a little b*tch and then spits in his face. That’s some trashy nonsense, even for reality TV. The last time I remember someone being legit spit on was on Flavor of Love, that’s how trashy it is. It’s Flavor Flav trashy. And with that, Sam packs his bags and leaves. (For some reason this whole exchange is very triggering for Justin who is seen just wandering around the house in tears. Danique, meanwhile, is still my favorite, drinking out of a comically large wine glass as this all unfolds.)

Before the black tie affair, Lance Bass sits down Robert to tell him what happened with Sam. Either Robert is already decided on Justin or Paul and doesn’t care, or he and Lance Bass just loaded themselves up on Percocet before this conversation, because, for the most dramatic moment thus far on the season, neither the host nor the Prince seem capable of producing a single emotional reaction to the news.

Most of the black tie affair is pretty predictable. Paul, Chad, Robby, Eric and Justin are all safe. Robert calls on Brandon and hilariously tells him that he forgot he was even here. (Likewise, buddy). That means it’s down to Dillon — whom it seems Robert doesn’t even like as a person and has repeatedly been called out for specific actions he’s taken that have upset Robert — and Danique.

So, obviously, he cuts Dillon loose for being a dramatic pot-stirrer and bad judge of when to kiss someone.

Just kidding! He eliminates Danique, the last remaining guy who wouldn’t take his shirt off by the pool.

Next week there’s more kissing, but, this time, it’s personal horizontal! Can I get Danique’s giant wine glass now that he’s not using it anymore? I’m going to need it.

What did you think of this episode?

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Spitting Is Too Much To Swallow On ‘Finding Prince Charming’ [RECAP]

Ted Cruz Caves, Announces He Will Vote for Donald Trump in November

After refusing to endorse Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Senator Ted Cruz announced on Friday that he will vote for Trump in the coming general election.

Cruz Made his announcement in a Facebook post on Friday: 

In Cleveland, I urged voters, “please, don’t stay home in November. Stand, and speak, and vote your conscience, vote for candidates up and down the ticket whom you trust to defend our freedom and to be faithful to the Constitution.”

After many months of careful consideration, of prayer and searching my own conscience, I have decided that on Election Day, I will vote for the Republican nominee, Donald Trump.

I’ve made this decision for two reasons. First, last year, I promised to support the Republican nominee. And I intend to keep my word.

Second, even though I have had areas of significant disagreement with our nominee, by any measure Hillary Clinton is wholly unacceptable — that’s why I have always been #NeverHillary.

PREVIOUSLY – Ted Cruz Refuses to Endorse Trump, Gets Booed at Republican Convention Address: WATCH

Cruz also said he decided to back Trump because of the key role the next president will likely play in the future direction of the Supreme Court.

Wrote Cruz,

We are only one justice away from losing our most basic rights, and the next president will appoint as many as four new justices. We know, without a doubt, that every Clinton appointee would be a left-wing ideologue. Trump, in contrast, has promised to appoint justices “in the mold of Scalia.”

For some time, I have been seeking greater specificity on this issue, and today the Trump campaign provided that, releasing a very strong list of potential Supreme Court nominees — including Sen. Mike Lee, who would make an extraordinary justice — and making an explicit commitment to nominate only from that list. This commitment matters, and it provides a serious reason for voters to choose to support Trump.

Mike Lee, who has a history of vehement opposition to gay marriage and LGBT civil rights, has said he is not interested in a position on the Supreme Court.

Cruz added,

The Supreme Court will be critical in preserving the rule of law. And, if the next administration fails to honor the Constitution and Bill of Rights, then I hope that Republicans and Democrats will stand united in protecting our fundamental liberties.

Our country is in crisis. Hillary Clinton is manifestly unfit to be president, and her policies would harm millions of Americans. And Donald Trump is the only thing standing in her way.

NPR reports on conservative reaction to Cruz’s announcement: 

Some of Cruz’s supporters are expressing disappointment with the senator’s change of heart. On Twitter, conservative columnist and talk show host Steve Deace called the move the “worst political miscalculation of my lifetime” and said he suspected the move would cause more #NeverTrump voters to “dig in their heels deeper than be moved by Cruz’s move.”

“Cruz has nothing to gain from this, and everything to lose,” Cruz’s Iowa co-chair, Joel Kurtinitis, said in a message to NPR. “His brand is based on principled resistance. Submissive conformity to Trump — a man who personally slandered Cruz’s family and hasn’t apologized — just cements Trump as the unopposed alpha in the GOP and hangs Cruz’s conservative resistance out to dry.”

“This endorsement will not convince #NeverTrump folks to change our minds about The Donald,” he continued, “but we may well be forced to reconsider our support for Sen. Cruz.”

You can read Cruz’s full statement, below.

The post Ted Cruz Caves, Announces He Will Vote for Donald Trump in November appeared first on Towleroad.

Ted Cruz Caves, Announces He Will Vote for Donald Trump in November

Trump’s “Gang of Hate” Expands; Receives Endorsement from Ted Cruz

You’ll never guess whom Texas Senator Ted Cruz just endorsed. Well, maybe you will. The rumor is true:  Cruz finally gave in and got on the Trump train.

Luckily, he’s not alone. Just this morning, the Trump campaign announced it hired the one and only Rick “turn back the clock” Santorum as a campaign adviser.

Whether the issue is marriage equality or critical protection from discrimination, Cruz has consistently opposed equality for LGBTQ Americans. And he’s gone even further, attacking fellow Republicans for marching in pride parades, warning of the threat of “mandatory gay marriage” and calling 2016 the “religious liberty election.” You’re shocked. We know. He also vowed to make his opposition to LGBTQ equality a centerpiece of his presidential campaign, and he lived up to that promise until he, you know, lost and dropped out.

Other members of Trump’s “Gang of Hate” include Tony Perkins, Michele Bachmann, James Dobson, Marco Rubio and Sam Brownback.

With friends like these, there’s no doubt that a Donald Trump presidency would be a disaster for the LGBTQ community. Click here to take the pledge to support pro-LGBTQ candidates this November.

www.hrc.org/blog/trumps-gang-of-hate-expands-receives-endorsement-from-ted-cruz?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Handful of Extremists Protest Marriage Equality at Mexican Embassy

A handful of anti-equality demonstrators gathered in front of the Mexican Embassy in Washington, D.C. on Friday afternoon to denounce the continuing momentum towards marriage equality across Mexico, including a presidential proposal for federal marriage equality.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto put forward a federal marriage equality proposal to Congress on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia in May this year. The proposal is currently stalled in Congress where it would need the support of two-thirds of members to pass. Mexico City and several states have achieved marriage equality in the last few years but most states in the country do not yet have it.

Speaking at the sparsely attended protest outside the Mexican Embassy, Diego von Stauffenberg of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) called for the “defense of natural marriage between one man and one woman.” He added that the “fabric of civic order would be weakened” by marriage equality. Stauffenberg additionally called for the “content and ideology” of LGBTQ-acceptance to be excluded from public education in Mexico.

NOM and the World Congress of Families (WCF), both of which are categorized as anti-LGBTQ hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center, organized the protest. An anti-equality rally dubbed the “National March for the Family” is expected to take place in Mexico City tomorrow. WCF’s new director Brian Brown is expected to attend the march.

Brown’s presence in Mexico City is part of a broader pattern of American extremists traveling the world to sow hatred towards LGBTQ people, much like they have done in the U.S. for decades with increasingly limited effectiveness. Another extremist, Scott Anderson of an Arizona-based anti-LGBTQ hate group, was banned from South Africa and arrested and deported from Botswana this week for making inflammatory anti-LGBTQ statements.

In early September, hundreds of thousands of anti-equality protesters demonstrated through major Mexican cities in rallies organized by a Catholic organization. The protesters denounced President Nieto and demanded a constitutional amendment to ban marriage equality. Nevertheless, many Mexicans have come out of for marriage equality, including this famous actor in a viral video.

HRC stands with the LGBTQ community in Mexico and around the world in condemning voices of hate from anti-LGBTQ American extremists who are exporting their hate abroad.

www.hrc.org/blog/handful-of-extremists-protest-marriage-equality-at-mexican-embassy?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

High Level Meeting on LGBTQ Rights at United Nations

Earlier this week, HRC Global and HRC Board Member Paul Boskind attended the highest-level meeting on LGBTQ rights ever to be held at the United Nations (U.N.). U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden addressed world leaders at the U.N.’s LGBT Core Group event entitled, “#Path2Equality: Global leaders discuss progress towards LGBT equality,” at U.N. Headquarters in New York City.

During the event, Ban highlighted the advancements the U.N. has made since his appointment as Secretary-General, including the launch of U.N. Free and Equal and the Human Rights Council’s recent vote to create the first-ever position of a U.N. Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.

Following Ban’s address, Vice President Biden spoke about the current status of LGBTQ rights in the U.S. He noted that in over thirty states, it is still possible to get married in the morning and then be fired the same day just because of who you are or who you love. After quoting “that all men are created equal” from the U.S. Declaration of Independence, Biden went on to add that “discrimination against anyone for their sexual orientation or gender is anathema to our most basic values.”

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg also spoke about LGBTQ equality in their countries and the next steps for equality. President Bachelet promised to send a marriage equality bill to the Chilean Congress within the first half of 2017, while Prime Minister Solberg focused on the important and necessary work to change public attitudes toward the LGBTQ community in her country.

Perhaps the most moving address of the event came from Caleb Orozco of Belize, the plaintiff in the Supreme Court case that ultimately led to decriminalization of same-sex activity in Belize, setting a historic precedent in the Caribbean region. Orozco shared his personal journey as the face of the movement in Belize and the leader of the nation’s only LGBT organization, UNIBAM. Orozco has lived in isolation for years, facing deadly violence and backlash for his outspoken activism. He described how the public has adopted his last name as the latest slur used against LGBTQ people. Both Biden and Ban commended Orozco for his bravery and commitment and thanked him for all that he has done to advance equality in Belize.

In addition to the approximately twenty heads of state and government representing the member states of the LGBT Core Group, other notable attendees included U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power and U.S. Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons Randy Berry. As part of our ongoing global work on LGBTQ rights, HRC was honored to be present at this prestigious and historic event.

Below: HRC Board Member Paul Boskind and Caleb Orozco

#Path2Equality” src=”http://hrc-assets.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com//files/images/blog/UN_300x533.jpg”>

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