HRC Releases Scorecard Measuring Support for LGBTQ Equality in the 114th Congress

HRC today released its Congressional Scorecard measuring support for LGBTQ equality in the 114th Congress. The scorecard shows continued strong support for LGBTQ equality from Democrats and growing bipartisan support for LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections. The 114th Congress saw a record number of Republicans vote at different times to affirm President Obama’s executive order prohibiting discrimination by federal contractors on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

“LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections gained important bipartisan support in the 114th Congress. Unfortunately, despite those gains, the 114^th Congress failed to advance any pro-equality legislation and remains an impediment to progress for the LGBTQ community,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “Today, a majority of Americans — Republicans, Democrats and independents — all believe that LGBTQ people should be able to live their lives free from fear of discrimination and be protected from discrimination. It’s long past time that Congress reflects the opinion of the majority of fair-minded Americans.”

With 190 Democrats in the House and Senate receiving perfect 100 scores, pro-equality legislation received exceptionally high levels of support from Democratic lawmakers. In comparison, one House Republican and one Senate Republican earned perfect scores.

“Building on our incredible support from Democratic elected officials, gaining ground with fair-minded Republicans is important next step to win the support we need to pass important legislation like the Equality Act,” added David Stacy, HRC’s Government Affairs Director.  “Winning 62 Republican votes in the House is a historic achievement that can help lay the groundwork for future success.”

Members of Congress were scored based on their votes and co-sponsorships of pieces of legislation that are key indicators of support for LGBTQ equality. Despite the 114^th Congress failing to enact any legislation to protect the LGBTQ community, majorities emerged in both chambers on key LGBTQ issues.

In the House, a historic 62 Republicans voted at different times to affirm President Obama’s executive order prohibiting discrimination by federal contractors on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity — nearly double the total from Republicans on previous LGBTQ non-discrimination votes. And in the Senate, bipartisan majorities voted for amendments supporting spousal benefits for same-sex couples, non-discrimination protections in runaway and homeless youth programs, and non-discrimination protections in education.

What’s more, the number of Republicans earning more than a 50 percent score doubled in the Senate and nearly doubled in the House since the last Congress. Three Republicans — Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Bob Dold (R-IL) and Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) — have endorsed the Equality Act.

Unfortunately, despite growing bipartisan support for LGBTQ issues, Congressional leadership did not bring any pro-LGBTQ legislation to the floor. Senate Republican leadership required super majorities on these key amendments, preventing passage. House Republican leadership shamefully held open a vote and flipped the votes of seven Republicans, torpedoing an LGBTQ equality amendment that would have otherwise passed.

Key Facts:

• 190 Members of Congress earned perfect scores (188 Democrats, 2 Republicans).
• The average score for Representatives was 53.
  • Average score for Democratic Representatives is 96.
  • Average score for Republican Representatives is 10.
• The average score for Senators was 54.
  • Average score for Democratic Senators is 98.
  • Average score for Republican Senators is 20.
• The Northeast and West continue to elect Members of Congress with strong support of LGBTQ issues; the average score for Representatives and Senators from the Northeast was 73 and 93 respectively; in the West it was 64 and 57 respectively.
• Republican Senators from the Northeast have the highest average, 60, of Republican members from any region.

The HRC Scorecard for the 114th Congress is available online at www.hrc.org/scorecard

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-releases-scorecard-measuring-support-for-lgbtq-equality-in-the-114th-co?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

23-Year-Old Adult Film Star Maxent Houillon Has Been Missing For Five Days

Adult film star Baptiste Garcia (real name: Maxent Houillon) has been missing since Monday, October 3.

The 23-year-old, best known for his work with “French Twink Studios,” was last seen in the Perpignan region of France. He  was dressed in slim jeans, grey pullover, black basket sneakers, and a dark blue backpack.

According to a flier that’s been making the rounds on Twitter, Garcia was last seen around 1pm at the bus stop “Roussillonnais.”

He was supposed to visit friends at the Place Francois Arago, and then was scheduled to work in Elne.

He never showed up to either appointment.

@LukeAllenXXX it’s a strange story… we are waiting, waiting, waiting… and supporting @Chris_LoanXXX

— FrenchTwinks Studios (@FTwinks) October 7, 2016

Those with any info are encouraged to call +33 6 27 70 01 50.

www.queerty.com/23-year-old-adult-film-star-maxent-houillon-missing-five-days-20161007?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Republican Lawmaker Who Sexted Teen Boy Issues Video Response, Apologizes But Doesn’t Come Out

One week after Mike Yenni, a local conservative politician from Louisiana, was outed for sexting with a 17-year-old boy, he is finally breaking his silence.

Yenni has been keeping a low profile since the scandal erupted. Until last night, that is, when he aired a commercial during the 10 p.m. newscasts on several local TV stations addressing the story.

Related: Married Conservative Politician Outed For Sexting Teen Boy, Kissing Him In Mall Bathroom

In the commercial, Yenni apologizes for his actions and assures people he never “abused or misused my powers as a public official.” He stops just short of resigning from his post at Jefferson Parish President or coming out as gay or bisexual.

“Last summer I was old enough to know better, but I guess I was still young enough to do something stupid,” 40-year-old Yenni says. “I chose to send improper texts to a young man.”

By “improper,” of course, he means sexting with a 17-year-old Catholic school boy who he met at a senior graduation luncheon and asking the youth to take pictures of himself modeling in a pair of $75 designer underpants.

Related: Internet Responds In All Sorts Of Ways To Married Conservative Mike Yenni’s Boy Trouble

In the video, Yenni says he would not go into details about the texts out of respect for the privacy of “all parties.”

“I made a bad decision,” he continues. “I regret my actions. I apologize to the families involved, and anyone who I embarrassed, especially my own family and the people of Jefferson.”

He goes on to say he will work extra hard “every day to prove that good people can rise from a bad decision.”

Related: Did Catholic School Where Mike Yenni Met Teen Boyfriend Know About His Lust For Underagers?

“I’m certainly not afraid of the future,” Yenni promises, “because I’m smart enough to never repeat the past.”

See Yenni’s response below…

www.queerty.com/republican-lawmaker-sexted-teen-boy-issues-video-response-apologizes-doesnt-come-20161007?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Drag Is A Family Affair On ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 2’ [RECAP]

Gather round, chickadees, because we have a lot to discuss after last night’s RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. Last night’s “Bring Your Family To Werk Day” themed episode started heartwarming, but it took a bitter, bitter turn.

Get ready to gag on the return of Drag Race’s most notorious girl gang, and find out who failed to duckwalk their way into the final four.

As a reminder, this is a BYOP party, bring your own pitchforks, henny. You’re gonna need them.

Things start in the workroom, where Alaska quickly tries to dispel rumors of a RoLaskaTox uprising. No, no, Alaska assures the room. She didn’t save Roxxxy over Tati last week because we’re in cahoots; she did it because Tati wasn’t here for a few weeks, so who knows how she would have fared.

Fair enough (even though, as I pointed out last week, if Tati had been in the bottom two both of the weeks she was absent, she would still only tie Roxxxy in the amount of times in the bottom AND she would have one more win). But, for the sake of argument, let’s just say Alaska was being honest. The reasoning mostly holds up. Katya, bless her, reveals she would have sent Roxxxy home. And rightfully so.

Ru enters to let the ladies know that this week will be makeover week, and it’s going to be a family affair. Mama Ru has invited the moms and sisters of the remaining queens to come be transformed. The pairs will be judged on family resemblance and a special vogue performance. How fun!

Katya’s mom is an adorable little lady. She’s so adorable, she even makes that grating “Bahstan” accent charming.

Alaska’s mom prompts this season’s frontrunner to confess his struggles with substance abuse.

Alyssa and his sister discuss the death of their mother a year ago, while Detox and his sister talk about the recent anniversary of their father’s passing. Roxxxy’s mom (technically her grandmother, but she is the woman who raised Roxxxy) is probably the most likable thing about Roxxxy we’ve seen so far. She even showed up in her own homemade t-shirt.

Their time in the workroom is sweet, if sort of uneventful, save for an appearance by Anastasia Soare, some sort of Romanian eyebrow dominatrix socialite. She could’ve been Katya’s long-lost sister. I want more of her.

But I also want more Aubrey Plaza, this week’s guest judge. In fact, I vote that we send Todrick Hall home and keep Aubrey forever. She’s snappy and clever, but a totally different vibe than Michelle and Carson.

The resulting runway is a lot of fun. Katya and her mom are wonderful, and play to Katya’s campy strengths. Her mom played an actual Russian peasant mother while still serving glamour, and it was great. A real hammer and SICKENING routine. Detox also turned it way up with her sister, going for outrageous artistry like only she can. Alyssa and Roxxxy produced cute, middling routines, but it was our leading lady Alaska that really stumbled.

This led to ‘Laska throwing an all out hissy fit backstage, which was really unattractive. For a competitor that’s been cool as a cucumber the entire competition, it was shocking to see her completely unravel like this. She even (jokingly?) offered Detox $10k to stay in the competition.

Alyssa makes the case that clearly Alaska has been killing it, and it’s only Ms. Edwards second time in the bottom, so the choice should be obvious, right? RIGHT?

Somehow, Roxxxy feels like her safe performance this week cancels out the last few weeks of falling in the bottom.

The queens lip sync, and Detox just kills it. She wisely changed into a new outfit and a perfect Dr. Seuss-esque wig, and she just goes for it. Even the one, well-timed jaw quiver was masterfully deployed. She takes the win and sends home … ALYSSA?! Even Ru gasps in horror.

I guess this really is RuPaul’s Best Friend Race.

As Alaska points out in next week’s preview, this is a repeat of the season five closer: RoLaskaTox and a lovable weirdo are all that remain going into next week’s finale. Let’s size up the competition in our rankings, below.

1. Despite some truly off-putting behavior in tonight’s episode, the season still belongs to Alaska. A win for anyone else at this point just doesn’t feel earned. Even though I think her performance this week was underwhelming, she outpaced the other queens by such a comfortable distance in the preceding episodes that I still think she deserves the crown.

2. I’m loving this more focused Katya. I like that she knows her brand of humor and doesn’t second-guess making some bold choices. Her commercial last week was strong, and I loved the story she told on the runway with her mom. It’s good to see her feeling emboldened to stand up to RoLaskaTox instead of letting that get to her.

3. Well, I guess the top three is sured up now, and it’s Detox snagging the third spot. (Though it’s unclear if a winner will be chosen from the top four or if we’ll whittle down the remaining girls any further first). It goes without saying that I think Detox deserves the spot more than Roxxxy, but I’m not sure she can shake the savvy top two competitors.

4. Alyssa. Yeah, I said it. Her work last night was at least on par with Roxxxy, if not better, and her work throughout the competition far surpassed Roxxxy’s output. In the end, Alyssa is a star, regardless, and for sure one of the all-time favorites in the hearts of fans. She’ll be fine.

5. Roxxxy with her mom was the most endearing version of Ms. Andrews I’ve seen yet. But Roxxxy’s stubborn refusal to acknowledge that, yeah, it was her time to go sent her right back to the bottom of my list. She’s a competent, skilled queen that I just find utterly unlikable. She’s got skill, but she’s just not a star. #sorryboutit

How would you rank the queens?

The post Drag Is A Family Affair On ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 2’ [RECAP] appeared first on Towleroad.

Drag Is A Family Affair On ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 2’ [RECAP]

Rosie O’Donnell Writes Poem About Meeting Ivanka Trump: ‘Captivated By Her Beauty’

Yesterday we reported on Rosie O’Donnell’s meeting with Ivanka Trump at a Manhattan Nobu restaurant on 57th street. O’Donnell tweeted about the encounter shortly after it took place:

@IvankaTrump in a city of 8 million – we meet face 2 face – i thank u 4 listening – mother 2 mother – on this new years week – my best 2 u

— Rosie (@Rosie) October 6, 2016

O’Donnell, of course, has been in a vocal feud with Donald Trump for years, and was mentioned at the end of last week’s presidential debate.

Spurred on by accusations from Clinton about his derogatory remarks toward women, Trump brought up O’Donnell out of the blue, saying, “Rosie O’Donnell, I said very tough things to her, and I think everybody would agree she deserves it.”

After the debate, O’Donnell tweeted, “HE WILL NEVER BE PRESIDENT.” She also tweeted the video which started the feud in the first place and referred to Trump as an “orange anus.”

It was the second time Trump had mentioned O’Donnell in a presidential debate. In the primary, he mentioned her too when host Megyn Kelly asked Trump about his off-color remarks about women over the years – calling them “fat pigs,” “dogs,” “slobs,” and “disgusting animals.”

Trump responded by saying “Only Rosie O’Donnell,” which, while untrue, drew a huge round of cheers and applause from the crowd.

Now, Rosie has reflected on the meeting with Ivanka and penned a poem. Here’s what we learned from it.

O’Donnell is still suffering from depression:

i am tired
this is the first time i have been out

out of bed really – to be honest
since the debate
i have been sleeping a lot
depression clings to me

it’s hard to walk
to shower
to try
to care

She did not realize that she had seen Ivanka at first after seeing an attractive couple sitting at a booth:

i watch them
stunned by her face
and his calming charm
they were definitely a THEY

obvious for all to see
oblivious to all seeing them
love works like this
i thought

two
so connected
alone together
in a crowded corner

“that is the most beautiful woman i have ever seen”
i say aloud to dana
she turns to look – turns back at me
“that’s ivanka”

can’t be i said
no it can’t be
it is –
she reassures me

Ivanka is stunning in person, at least to Rosie:

i was captivated by her beauty
it blinded me so

Rosie still worries about the heart attack she had, and feared she might have another one when she saw Ivanka:

we stood to move to another table
but i knew i could not stay
my heart i worried
would break again

it did 4 years ago
i won’t survive another one
change ur life
is the prescription

The encounter was civil and they talked about family:

i told her of my children
some truths about myself
my pain and shame
she was absurdly kind

Rosie believes it was fate that they met:

i wrote a book once
about bashert
the concept of
meant to be

it has comforted me
on my darkest days
when my inner voices scream
u deserved it

as her father has
same as my own

Read the poem in full HERE.

The post Rosie O’Donnell Writes Poem About Meeting Ivanka Trump: ‘Captivated By Her Beauty’ appeared first on Towleroad.

Rosie O’Donnell Writes Poem About Meeting Ivanka Trump: ‘Captivated By Her Beauty’

An Active Day in Nevada

HRC staff and volunteers enjoyed a politically engaged day on Tuesday in Nevada. First, HRC joined our progressive partners and Hillary for America for a rally supporting Catherine Cortez Masto, an HRC-endorsed candidate for U.S. Senate. Our good friend Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., stopped by the event to remind us that we, as a community, need to volunteer and turn out to vote!

From the rally, we went to phone bank with our LGBTQ community partners, urging Nevadans to listen to Sen. Warren and turn out to vote and volunteer. Saturday, Oct. 8 – just two days from now – is the last day for paper voter registration in Nevada. After Oct. 8, register to vote at www.hrc.org/vote.

We ended the day with a debate watch party and discussion. Attendees  expressed great concern about the notion of a President Trump in our future. The choice between Trump and Clinton is clear. Only one candidate sees the LGBTQ community worthy of being legally protected and treated with dignity, and that is the candidate we find worthy of the White House.

We had a busy and productive day and we are planning for 32 more days full of elections activities in Nevada and across the country. Learn more about HRC’s Vote Equality 2016 efforts.

HRC is counting on our members and supporters to mobilize and #turnOUT the pro-equality vote in November. HRC members are volunteering thousands of hours for endorsed candidates and are visible at campaign events across Nevada and across the country.  

www.hrc.org/blog/an-active-day-in-nv?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

The GLAAD Wrap: Ian McKellen documentary, MTV Docs, 'Legend of Korra' graphic novel and more!

www.glaad.org/blog/glaad-wrap-ian-mckellen-documentary-mtv-docs-legend-korra-graphic-novel-and-more