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Monthly Archives: February 2017
WATCH: Katie Couric shares the gender identity revolution!
WATCH: Katie Couric shares the gender identity revolution!
No shortage of LGBT content out there right now, with Katie Couric’s insightful Gender Revolution special leading the charge on cable, a James Baldwin documentary, and loads more in this edition of our biweekly What To Watch column.
Now for trailers and details!
Theatrical
Mr. Gaga: A True Story Of Love And Dance
(Opens February 10 in L.A. and Orange County, CA; Abramorama)
No relation to Lady, the Mr. Gaga in question is Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin, who created a new dance style and language titled “Gaga.” Director Tomer Heymann’s documentary charts Naharin’s prodigious career – from Juilliard and an invitation to perform with Martha Graham’s company – and creation of his own ensemble and gaga, with incredible footage of the dancers and choreographer in action. Yasssssss papa!
DVD/VOD
($30.99 DVD; Sony)
Oldboy director Park Chan-wook’s take on Sarah Water’s Victoria England-set novel Fingersmith – previously adapted as a 2005 BBC miniseries – moves the action to 1930s South Korea. A con man’s scheme to romance a woman for her riches goes all sorts of Bound when his female accomplice, Sookee, who is hired as the woman’s handmaiden, falls for the mark. With the two women genuinely connected, what will come of this devious plot? Twisty eye candy for sure!
($26.95 DVD; Wolfe)
Winner of awards at multiple LGBT film festivals, this Midwest-set gay coming of age drama from co-directors/writers Sasha King and Brian O’Donnell tracks the romance between a pair of college freshmen, Benny and Christopher. When the pair take a Spring Break trip to Florida – and finally have a chance for some real romance – but then a little bit of knotty backstory comes to the surface and threatens to derail this young love and their families. Extras include a featurette.
($26.95 DVD; Wolfe)
Having debuted at the Berlin Film Festival, German-Polish writer/director Piotr Lewandowski’s drama centers on a young man, Jonathan, stuck on a rural farm in order to care for his ailing father, Burghard. When dad’s childhood friend, Ron, shows up, the aging man’s health suddenly takes a turn for the better – is there something Jonathan doesn’t know about his father’s past and relationships? For that matter, maybe there’s something Jonathan needs to realize about himself, too…
($19.99 DVD; CAV)
This queer Canadian romcom from writer Rick Tae and director Monika Mitchell sees a commitment-phobic gay restaurant heir with a high libido, John, discover that one of his chefs – and crushes since childhood – Jack, is engaged… to John’s sister. Wuh-oh! Can John come to terms with this love before the wedding happens while his life begins to fall apart? Hijinks and romance ensue, with a pair of handsome leads including Kent S. Leung as Jack.
Streaming/TV
Gender Revolution:A Journey With Katie Couric
(Airs February 6 at 9pm EST; NatGeo TV)
Katie Couric heads up this two-hour National Geographic documentary, which delves into the very timely topic of gender identity in society. In the process, she speaks and finds enlightenment with a range of transgender individuals – including model/actress Harif Nef, and a child already beginning a gender transition – plus activists, medical experts, authors, and more. A truly probing, intelligent work that taps into part of the culture war being waged (HB2 anyone?), and coincides with the current, excellent gender-themed issue of the magazine on stands.
(Episodes Debut Wednesdays at 5pm)
Creator Pablo Andreu dubs this 10 episode web series a “bromantic comedy.” As he tells it, “the series as a whole?essentially addresses the hysteria some straight dudes exhibit about being perceived even a little gay, spurning the idea of sexuality on a spectrum. This video calls bullshit on that rigidity and insecurity, summoning some sophomoric locker room humor in the process, and hopefully it’s, you know, funny.” Be the judge and check out new episodes every Wednesday starting February 8th!
ALSO OUT:
Two Lovers And A Bear
Danny Says
Fall
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner Helped Squelch Reversal of Obama’s LGBT Protections: REPORT
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner Helped Squelch Reversal of Obama’s LGBT Protections: REPORT
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner worked to block the Trump administration from issuing an order that would have reversed LGBT protections put in place for federal workers and contractors by President Obama, according to a report in Politico.
But two sources close to Kushner and Ivanka Trump, who have in the past been supporters of gay rights, said the young couple were both in favor of putting out a clear statement from the president, promising to uphold the 2014 Obama executive order and stopping the momentum for the turnaround in its tracks.
On Tuesday night, the White House released a statement noting that “President Donald J. Trump is determined to protect the rights of all Americans, including the LGBTQ community. President Trump continues to be respectful and supportive of LGBTQ rights, just as he was throughout the election.”
The White House released a statement Tuesday morning that said the protections would “remain intact”.
President Donald J. Trump is determined to protect the rights of all Americans, including the LGBTQ community. President Trump continues to be respectful and supportive of LGBTQ rights, just as he was throughout the election. The President is proud to have been the first ever GOP nominee to mention the LGBTQ community in his nomination acceptance speech, pledging then to protect the community from violence and oppression. The executive order signed in 2014, which protects employees from anti-LGBTQ workplace discrimination while working for federal contractors, will remain intact at the direction of President Donald J. Trump.
It’s unclear whether there is any kind of broader ‘religious freedom’ executive order still coming. Family Research Council President Tony Perkins remains bullish that something along those lines is yet to come from the White House.
A draft executive order on that topic, which would effectively legalize anti-LGBT discrimination, circulated this week. Passing legislation that would do the same is top of mind for social conservative lawmakers, who intend to pass the First Amendment Defense Act this session. Trump has promised to sign that.
Perkins said that Vice President Mike Pence has been involved and is “clearly sensitive to this.” If so, the fight over LGBT rights could reveal a fault line between Pence, an evangelical Christian who as governor of Indiana signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in 2015; and Kushner, who is Jewish and whose social circle includes socially progressive New Yorkers.
“There are some in Trump’s family that have some views on these things,” said a source close to the discussions. “That’s where the decision is ultimately being made.”
The post Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner Helped Squelch Reversal of Obama’s LGBT Protections: REPORT appeared first on Towleroad.
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner Helped Squelch Reversal of Obama’s LGBT Protections: REPORT
Report: Ivanka, Husband Helped Save LGBT Protections
Report: Ivanka, Husband Helped Save LGBT Protections
The influential first daughter and her spouse, scion Jared Kushner, pushed back against a much-feared rollback of federal protections.
www.advocate.com/politics/2017/2/03/report-ivanka-husband-helped-save-lgbt-protections
#gay #bi #lgbt #followme #model #castmemarc #selfie
gay 
Melania Trump’s multi-million dollar escort libel lawsuit just got weirder
Melania Trump’s multi-million dollar escort libel lawsuit just got weirder
Melania Trump’s platform as First Lady is combating online bullying… against herself and her family. She’s currently embroiled in two multi-million dollar libel lawsuits against people who she feels said mean and untrue things about her on the internet.
Related: The First Lady’s cause: Herself! (No, seriously. It really is.)
One of the outlets the First Lady is suing is the Daily Mail over a story it published last year suggesting she had once worked as an “escort.” The story covered Melania’s journey from Europe to New York in the mid-1990s and claimed that she became connected with a wealthy New York entrepreneur shortly after arriving in the Big Apple, who allegedly operated an escort agency for wealthy clients, which she may or may not have worked for.
Immediately upon the story’s publication, Melania’s team put out a statement saying the claims were totally “false” and insisting she only “did legitimate and legal modeling work for legitimate business entities and did not work for any ‘gentleman’s club’ or ‘escort’ agencies.” Then she filed a libel lawsuit against the publication.
Now, here’s where it gets weird.
Related: Melania Trump granted permission to sue blogger for $150 million for calling her an escort
Melania filed the lawsuit in Maryland. Her lawyers argued that the company’s advertisements target users in the state, and so filing the suit was proper. In response, the website’s parent company, Mail Media, filed a motion to have the case dismissed on the grounds that it wasn’t filed in the proper jurisdiction. (Both the Daily Mail and Mail Media are based in the U.K.)
Now, Maryland Circuit Court Judge Sharon Burrell has ruled in favor of the Daily Mail.
“[T]here is nothing about the parties that connects the case against MMI to Maryland–MMI does not have an office in Maryland, Plaintiff does not live in Maryland, and the witnesses are not located in Maryland,” Burrell wrote in her ruling. “It would be unreasonable as a matter of constitutional due process for this Court to exert jurisdiction over MMI or MailOnline in the State of Maryland.”
Related: On second thought, Melania Trump might not move to Washington, D.C. after all
Melania’s other libel lawsuit, the one demanding $150 million from blogger Webster Griffin Tarpley, however, will proceed in the Maryland Circuit Court, since Tarpley lives in Maryland.
The First Lady’s attorney Charles Harder has not yet commented on the ruling, though we’re sure she won’t be going to give up that easily. After all, a source close to Melania told US Weekly this week that she is “very much embracing the role and responsibilities of First Lady,” of which online bullying is her top priority.
Philadelphia Human Rights Commission: Gay Bars ‘Created Preferable Environments For White, Cisgender’ Men: VIDEO
Philadelphia Human Rights Commission: Gay Bars ‘Created Preferable Environments For White, Cisgender’ Men: VIDEO
The Philadelphia Commission on Human Rights has reprimanded 11 local gay bars for providing “preferable environments for white, cisgender male patrons.”
Read the report HERE.
The city’s gay bars came under scrutiny last year, after a video showed the owner of ICandy, Darryl DePiano (right), calling black patrons ni***rs. Since then, the commission has received several complaints about sexism and racism at local gay bars.
One complainant said that “every bar is owned by a white gay cisman. This is a clear indicator of severely entrenched systemic racism.”
A black lesbian identified as K. Apostol said she often had to wait as long as 15 minutes for drinks at ICandy and Woody’s, another gay bar, while she watched gay men receive much faster service.
RELATED: Protests Planned in Philadelphia After Video Emerges of Gay Bar Owner Calling Black Guests ‘N—ers’ – WATCH
An anonymous complainant said she felt unwelcome in the city because of a lack of lesbian bars.
Several other complainants said they felt white gay men received preferable treatment to black gay men at the bars.
Philly Gay Bar Owners And Staff Forced to do Anti-Racism Training – Eater Philly t.co/vVomoXvzev
— PhiladelphiaPennsylv (@PhiladelphiaP) February 1, 2017
In a report on discrimination in Philadelphia’s “Gayborhood,” the commission has told owners and staff of the bars named to attend a mandatory anti-discrimination course, which include implicit bias training discussing unintentional racism and sexism, reports Heat Street.
The report states that “overwhelmingly, the testimony revealed incidents of bias, feelings of frustration, prejudice, and discrimination.”
Watch the video of Darryl DePiano below.
The post Philadelphia Human Rights Commission: Gay Bars ‘Created Preferable Environments For White, Cisgender’ Men: VIDEO appeared first on Towleroad.
Driven to Quit: Uber CEO Leaves Trump Economic Advisory Board (Video)
Driven to Quit: Uber CEO Leaves Trump Economic Advisory Board (Video)
Under pressure, the embattled head of the driver-for-hire service announced he would no loner participate in the confab. Reports said Disney CEO Bob Iger also skipped the confab.
www.advocate.com/politics/2017/2/03/driven-quit-uber-ceo-leaves-trump-economic-advisory-board-video
Colby Keller tries to explain, again, why he voted for Donald Trump
Colby Keller tries to explain, again, why he voted for Donald Trump
Last year, Colby Keller earned himself some free publicity by saying he’d vote for Donald Trump to “escalate the problem.” (Negative attention is still attention.)
Related: Donald Is Killing The Trump Brand. Is Colby Keller Hurting His By Supporting Trump?
It’s a sentiment he builds upon during a conspicuously fawning profile published this week in MEL Magazine, which fondly describes Keller as having “a bicoastal accent that puts me in mind of a surfer who reads n+1.”
During the interview, Keller touches upon Donald Trump’s projected wall, his dislike of Hillary Clinton, the difficulties of being a communist, and the Democratic party.
Related: Colby Kellers’s mom wanted to shoot him (and herself) after he came out
Here’s some of the things that came out of his mouth during the course of the interview:
On Donald Trump’s wall:
“I’m a little surprised he’s as aggressive on ‘the wall’ as he said he would be, but I’m not surprised people like Trump and corporate America are going to the lengths they are in a system that’s no longer defensible. They’ll stop at nothing….”
On Hillary Clinton:
“Hillary Clinton would have been four more years of Barack Obama, continuing all of the horrible neoliberal policies of the Bush administration and of her husband?—?policies that have bankrupted the American people and people around the world.”
On the imminent American revolution:
“Things will get a lot worse and that will get us to a point where we need to be.”
On being a communist:
“Being a communist in 2017 means delivering better lives for people by collaborating. Competition and letting people who’ve controlled the earth for many years, who are evil and nasty, is not the way to get things done.”
On Democrats:
“The Democratic Party’s diabolical politics don’t serve the interests of the American people and that’s why [Trump voters] acted out… It’s going to take someone like Donald Trump to get people to overthrow the system.”
Virginia House Passes Anti-LGBTQ ‘Religious Freedom’ Bill
Virginia House Passes Anti-LGBTQ ‘Religious Freedom’ Bill
It’s fitting that the Virginia House of Delegates chose Groundhog Day to pass a so-called religious freedom bill, entitled “Solemnization of Marriage,” given that similar legislation just last year met with Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe’s veto.
HB2025 was approved 57 to 37 by the GOP-controlled chamber on a mostly party-line vote. (Four Republicans, Delegates Davis, Stolle, Villanueva and Yost voted nay.) It purportedly came in response to McAuliffe’s executive order that excludes government contractors who are found to discriminate against LGBTQ individuals and states that organizations that do not accept same-sex marriage should not be “punished” by the government.
Delegate Nicolas Freitas sponsored the bill. “This governor crossed a line and we have to defend those religious organizations,” he claimed, referring to sexual identity as “venereal passions.”
Democratic lawmakers voiced their concerns against the bill’s passage as well as warned of the HB2 precedent in neighboring North Carolina:
Del. Marcus Simon claimed that there are already statutes in place that protect religious organizations from violating their faith . . . “I think it’s going to send the wrong message to the rest of the United States,” Simon said. “It’s going to say that we are on the same side as North Carolina. That we are on the wrong side of this argument. That we are not welcoming to all kinds of people, regardless of who they love. It’s not the message we want to send if we want to have a 21st Century Virginia economy,” he said.
LGBTQ advocacy groups Human Rights Campaign and Equality Virginia also spoke out:
“The Virginia House of Delegates’ decision to pass this legislation puts the state’s people, reputation, and economy at risk,” said HRC Legal Director Sarah Warbelow. “This reckless bill in truth has nothing to do with the right to practice one’s religion, which is already firmly protected by the First Amendment. Rather, it is a thinly veiled attempt to provide a special license to discriminate with taxpayer funds.”
“We recognize that religion is a vital part of many Virginians’ daily lives, but HB 2025 does not protect religious liberty. Instead, it provides a license to discriminate against loving LGBTQ families,” said Equality Virginia Executive Director James Parrish. “Furthermore, its broad and vague definition of ‘person’ would set a dangerous precedent for discriminatory individuals and groups to be protected by our religious freedom laws.”
Gov. McAuliffe has already signaled his intention to veto HB2025.
The post Virginia House Passes Anti-LGBTQ ‘Religious Freedom’ Bill appeared first on Towleroad.
