Jess Herbst becomes Texas’s first openly transgender mayor

www.queerty.com/jess-herbst-becomes-texass-first-openly-transgender-mayor-20170201?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Man Sues Grindr Over Fake Profile After 700 Men Come to his Home Seeking Sex

Matthew Herrick says he is the victim of what amounts to catfishing-by-proxy and serial harassment, and has sued the gay dating app Grindr to make it stop.

The 32-year-old actor/model might have expected to be hot property on the app if he himself had set up the profile featuring his picture, pulled from his Instagram account, which has close to 27,000 followers.

Instead, he alleges that his ex-boyfriend is behind the false account, which has actively solicited hundreds of men and provided them with Herrick’s address and contact information. He has brought suit against Grindr in an attempt to have the account shut down and prevent furthers from being made:

In a lawsuit he filed against Grindr last week in the Supreme Court of New York[,] he accuses Grindr of negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false advertising, and deceptive business practices for allowing him to be impersonated and turned into an unwitting beacon for stalkers and harassers.

Herrick’s civil complaint against the company states that despite contacting Grindr more than 50 times, Grindr hasn’t offered a single response beyond auto-replies saying that it’s looking into the profiles he’s reported. Even after a judge signed an injunctive relief order Friday to force Grindr to stop the impersonating profiles, they persist: Herrick says that at least 24 men have come to his home and work since then. In total, he counts over 700 sex-soliciting men thrown into his daily life by the spoofed accounts since the ordeal began.

Beginning in October, the would-be suitors began to show up at his home, and later even his workplace, and insist upon the sexual encounters they had supposedly agreed; Herrick learned later that the false account would tell these men that he might pretend not to be interested or might have to send them away due to his roommate, but that they should return.

When WIRED contacted the ex-boyfriend, who is not explicitly named in the suit, he denied involvement and would not comment further due to another pending suit between him and Herrick, while Grindr would not comment at all.

While there have been safety-related concerns about Grindr and similar apps, it seems they can have a negative impact on the quality of life even of those who are not users, and provide a diabolical method of stalking and harassment from a distance. As with “revenge porn,” the courts and the legal system need to catch up with the technology.

The post Man Sues Grindr Over Fake Profile After 700 Men Come to his Home Seeking Sex appeared first on Towleroad.

Man Sues Grindr Over Fake Profile After Hundreds of Men Come to his Home Seeking Sex

Legislation Targeting Transgender Students Pulled in South Dakota

Early Tuesday morning, state lawmakers in South Dakota pulled a dangerous bill that specifically targeted transgender students. Similar to legislation vetoed last year by Republican Governor Dennis Daugaard, Senate Bill (SB) 115 would have prohibited transgender students from using school facilities consistent with their gender identity. Governor Daugaard stood up again for equality this year, publicly opposing SB 115.

While dozens of people met at the capitol to oppose the bill, no supporters of the bill, including the prime sponsors from the house and senate, showed up. People offering testimony against the bill included education experts, the executive branch and business interests.

“This shameful legislation targeting transgender students was a blatant attack on young people who already face high rates of discrimination, marginalization and harassment,” said HRC Regional Field Director Hope Errico Wisneski. “We hope that the withdrawal of this bill, along with the outspoken criticism from Governor Daugaard, business and education experts ends the attacks on transgender students. HRC will remain vigilant and will be ready to fight similar legislation with our local partners this year and in the future.” 

Last year, South Dakota lawmakers pushed similar legislation in an attempt to prevent transgender students in public schools from using restrooms and other facilities consistent with their gender identity. Major child advocacy organizations — including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Counseling Association, the American School Counselor Association, the Child Welfare League of America, the National Association of School Psychologists, the National Association of Social Workers, and the National Education Association — all made clear their grave concerns and objections to this type of legislation. Governor Daugaard stood on the right side of history and vetoed that bill.

“The unexpected withdrawal of SB 115 is a victory for transgender kids as well as all South Dakotans. After two years of legislative attacks on these vulnerable children we’re thankful that the message has been received and that our state leaders will get back to the critical business of the state,” Libby Skarin, Policy Director ACLU of South Dakota. “We hope transgender South Dakotans feel some relief knowing their rights are no longer on the line in Pierre. We are cautiously optimistic that this signals the end of the legislature’s intrusion into the lives of transgender kids, but we will remain ready to fight discrimination wherever we find it. Should the legislature wade back into the issue, or should a ballot measure campaign materialize, the ACLU – along with our partner organizations and dedicated allies – will unwaveringly stand in support of transgender kids and work to protect their right to live free from discrimination.”

In March of 2016, North Carolina lawmakers rammed into law a bill that contains a similar discriminatory measure and continues to wreak havoc on the people, reputation, and economy of that state. HB2 triggered a national outcry of opposition and a broad range of voices continue to speak out demanding its full and complete repeal. The economic fallout alone — including hundreds of millions of dollars in lost business — continues to grow as companies concerned with protecting their consumers and employees move conventions, trainings, operations, productions, and other events out of state. In November, former North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory became the only incumbent governor from either party to lose on Election Day specifically because he championed and signed HB2 into law.

This bill in South Dakota is part of a number of anti-LGBTQ bills being pushed in 2017 by anti-equality activists around the country. HRC is currently tracking more than 60 anti-LGBTQ legislative proposals in 19 states. For more information, visit http://hrc.im/2017legislature.

Click here to thank Governor Daugaard for standing up for all of South Dakota’s children.

www.hrc.org/blog/legislation-targeting-transgender-students-pulled-in-south-dakota?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

We Read Breitbart So You Don't Have To

We initiate a weekly roundup of what’s being said on Breitbart and other far-right sites.

www.advocate.com/2017/2/01/we-read-breitbart-so-you-dont-have

Hunting gay men for sport: Australia investigating the deaths of 88 men as hate crimes

Between 1976 and 2000, there were 88 deaths that police in New South Wales, Australia are considering reclassifying as antigay hate crimes.

According to The New York Times, police officials claim teenage gangs in Sydney would hunt gay men for sport, sometimes pushing them off cliffs to their deaths.

Related: Teenager Ben Bamford Found His Murder Victim On Grindr

These gangs were young men and occasionally women who prowled around for potential victims to harass. But initial investigations were often “perfunctory,” since, at the time, the police held openly hostile views of gay men.

One such case is the death of Scott Johnson (pictured) in 1988, an American citizen whose body was found at the foot of a cliff in Sydney, in an area notorious for suicides.

At the top of the cliff, Johnson’s clothes were discovered folded neatly in a pile alongside his watch, student ID, and a $10 bill. The overall consensus was that Johnson had killed himself.

Related: Meth addict who strangled and ate his Grindr date sentenced to life in prison

His brother Steve continually put pressure on authorities to investigate the crime as a murder, and 28 years later, a new inquest finally overturned the original finding of suicide, but coroners still reached no conclusion regarding the death.

Last month, Steve Johnson told WCVB that upon discovering “there were three other cases of gay men that died at cliff sides that had probably been attacked by marauding teen gangs, I collapsed.”

There will be new evidence heard in June, and Steve Johnson hopes it will inspire other investigations into these deaths, regardless of the outcome.

“There was clearly a pattern to these deaths,” says Margaret Sheil, whose brother Peter was also found dead at the base of a cliff  in 1983.

Today, it is extraordinary to think that we would not have had an open discussion about what happened. And if we had, it might have prevented it happening to someone else.

“We can now see that predators were attacking gay men,” says Ted Pickering, the police minister for New South Wales in the ’80s.

“And they were doing it with the almost-certain knowledge that the police would not have gone after them. That was the police culture of the day.”

Meanwhile, Stephen Tomsen, a criminologist at Western Sydney University, doesn’t think the review is any sort of adequate response.

“It may be tempting for the police to concentrate on merely relabeling crimes rather than doing fresh detective work to solve them,” he says.

www.queerty.com/hunting-gay-men-sport-australia-investigating-deaths-88-men-hate-crimes-20170201?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Frederick Douglass, Peter Thiel, Joe Biden, Reuters, Going Nuclear, Rob Stewart, Anthony Kiedis: HOT LINKS

BLACK HISTORY MONTH. Does Trump know Frederick Douglass is dead? “Frederick Douglass is an example of someone who’s done an amazing job and is being recognized more and more, I noticed.” And here’s the rest of his deplorable meeting.

GO NUCLEAR. Trump urges Senate to scrap 60-vote rule for SCOTUS nominee Neil Gorsuch.

ADVANCED. Jeff Sessions nomination goes to full Senate after bitter hearing.

POLL. 25 percent of voters believe Trump’s false voter fraud claims.

WORDS SHE LIVES BY. Hillary Clinton to publish new book of essays with Simon & Schuster: “These are the words I live by,” said Secretary Clinton, who will use them to tell stories from her life, up to and including her experiences in the 2016 presidential campaign. “These quotes have helped me celebrate the good times, laugh at the absurd times, persevere during the hard times and deepen my appreciation of all life has to offer.” She will use them as jumping off points for reflections on the future. “I hope by sharing these words and my thoughts about them, the essays will be meaningful for readers.”

STOP THE MUSIC. Guess who’s boycotting the Grammys now?

BIDEN FOUNDATION. VP’s new foundation will push for equal rights for all: “The Biden Foundation is an educational foundation dedicated to exploring the ways that everyone — no matter their income level, race, gender, age, or sexuality — can expect to be treated with dignity and to receive a fair shot at achieving the American dream.”

TRUMP VS. CIVIL SERVANTS. It’s boiling over: “There is a very powerful dissent that is now coming to the forefront among career employees. It’s unusual in my experience to have this, but we are dealing with an unusual president.”

DOG FOOD FAIL. Canine caught on film almost getting away with it.

SUED. CNN producer files federal lawsuit challenging Trump Muslim travel ban: “Mohammed Tawfeeq, a CNN editor and producer, has filed a suit in federal court challenging Pres. Trump’s executive order on immigration. Tawfeeq, an Iraqi national who has been a permanent legal resident of the U.S. since 2013, was detained at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport Sunday.”

REUTERS. News organization issues guidance on covering Trump to its journalists: “We don’t know yet how sharp the Trump administration’s attacks will be over time or to what extent those attacks will be accompanied by legal restrictions on our news-gathering. But we do know that we must follow the same rules that govern our work anywhere.”

NEW ZEALAND. Peter Thiel bought his way into citizenship: “Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel applied for New Zealand citizenship knowing full well that he failed to meet the island country’s requirements for residency. Thiel, a Trump surrogate who covertly steamrolled Gawker with a crippling lawsuit, boasted that his multi-million humanitarianism and tech investments was enough to merit citizenship, according to records shared by the New Zealand government on Wednesday.”

LITERAL TRUMP. Does Peter Thiel regret his words? “Now the PayPal co-founder is seeing his words come back to haunt him. Over the last week, the new administration has issued executive orders to temporarily ban Muslim immigrants, refugees and visitors from seven countries and pushed ahead to build a border wall.”

ROB STEWART. Toronto shark filmmaker missing off Florida Keys.

RED HOT CHILI PEPPER. Anthony Kiedis has a bod any other 54-year-old would envy.

GO DADDY. How many internet memes can you find in their Super Bowl ad?

HUMP DAY HOTTIE. Arad Winwin

The post Frederick Douglass, Peter Thiel, Joe Biden, Reuters, Going Nuclear, Rob Stewart, Anthony Kiedis: HOT LINKS appeared first on Towleroad.

Frederick Douglass, Peter Thiel, Joe Biden, Reuters, Going Nuclear, Rob Stewart, Anthony Kiedis: HOT LINKS

United Nations Independent Expert Consults with Civil Society

Post submitted by Jean Freedberg, Deputy Director, HRC Global

As one of his first actions since taking up his mandate as the United Nations (UN) Independent Expert for Protection Against Violence and Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn of Thailand held a two-day public consultation last month in Geneva. HRC has long advocated for the creation of this position and we were pleased to participate in the consultation by submitting a question.

In advance of the public consultation, his office put out a wide call for attendance and submissions to engage a variety of voices at the table. For those who could not attend in person, there was a live feed of the proceedings. Over the two days, the Independent Expert and his staff heard from a range of voices about issues that he should address. He answered dozens of questions from civil society organizations, including representatives from Mexico, Iran, Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa, Georgia and the Netherlands.  Professor Muntarbhorn listened respectfully to all the questions and reiterated his commitment to continuing to consult widely, to learn from those he met along the way and to work with all those willing to work with him within his answers. As he said, “I come with the spirit of wanting to help.” He will issue his first report in March.

The position of Independent Expert was created by the UN Human Rights Council last June, and then survived a succession of efforts to undo it at the UN in New York. A selection committee appointed Professor Muntarbhorn to this unpaid position after a wide public search.

Recently, he delivered the keynote address at the bi-annual meeting of the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) in Bangkok. In his speech, he outlined his proposed approach to his mandate. His work, he said, would rest on five pillars –  decriminalization of same sex sexual activity, de-pathologization of LGBTI people, status recognition of gender identity, gender-diverse cultural inclusion and creating a culture of empathy towards LGBTI people.

Photo: Edmund Settle

www.hrc.org/blog/united-nations-independent-expert-consults-with-civil-society?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Christian extremists furious that Donald Trump won’t be ripping away all LGBTQ rights immediately

Christian extremists and at least one Republican member of Congress are not pleased that Donald Trump won’t be stripping away all LGBTQ rights in America with the stroke of his pen.

Yesterday, Trump said he will uphold an executive order signed by Obama in 2014 which protects employees from anti-LGBTQ workplace discrimination while working for federal contractors… for now. Who knows how he’ll feel about it in another five minutes?

Related: White House: Worker protections will stay, doesn’t rule out religious exemptions

Now, in a statement to BuzzFeed News, “religious freedom” fighter Rep. Steve Russell of Oklahoma said, “I cannot understand why the President would prevent people of faith to continue to contract with the military.”

Ryan Anderson of the antigay Heritage Foundation agreed, saying Trump had “made a mistake” by honoring the nondiscrimination order, particularly because it makes trans people a “protected class,” which he believes is against God’s will.

“Many organizations, including faith-based groups, have beliefs about human embodiment that people are male and female — and that females and males are made for each other — and that the federal government shouldn’t penalize those groups when they operate according to their convictions,” he said.

Related: Trump Just Came Down Hard On The Side Of “Religious Liberty,” AKA Homophobia

And then there’s good ol’ Mat Staver of Liberty Council, better known as Kim Davis’ lawyer. He, too, isn’t happy that Trump is keeping “Obama’s bad executive order.”

“The fluid and subjective term ‘gender identity’ does not prevent discrimination in the workplace but rather injects in the workplace an agenda that is harmful to businesses and to other employees,” Staver said in a statement released Tuesday, adding that the “absurd” order’s protections “opens women’s restrooms to men” and force “businesses to be at the mercy of a person’s subjective and changing thoughts.”

Apparently, Starver would prefer to force all American citizens to be at the mercy of his own personal subjective and changing thoughts.

www.queerty.com/christian-extremists-furious-donald-trump-wont-ripping-away-lgbtq-rights-immediately-20170201?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Senate GOP Suspends Rules Amid Democratic Boycott, Advances HHS Nominee Price and Treasury Nominee Mnuchin

Amid Democratic boycotts, Senate Republicans suspended the rules to advance Treasury Secretary nominee Steven Mnuchin and HHS Secretary nominee Tom Price, CNN reports:

With the committee rules suspended, the 14 Republicans in the room voted to move the Mnuchin and Price nominations to the full Senate, even without the presence of a single member of the opposite party.

“They on their own accord refused to participate in the exercise,” Hatch said about the Democrats on the committee. “They have nobody to blame but themselves.”

Hatch said the Senate Parliamentarian had approved of the procedural maneuver, and insisted to reporters after the exercise was a “just utilization” of the rules. “This is all approved by the Parliamentarian,” he said. “I wouldn’t have done it if it hadn’t been.”

The committee’s call for a 9:30 a.m. gathering was so sudden that even some members of the media scrambled to arrive at the hearing room in the Dirksen building on time.

Hatch chuckled when confronted by questions from reporters about the little notice that the public received about Wednesday s meeting. “You were scrambling? Well, you know, that’s neither here nor there,” he said.

Watch:

Description of video on YouTube:

Heath and Human Services and Treasury Secretary Nominees The Senate Finance Committee suspended rules obliging Democrats to be available amid voting to propel the selections for Treasury secretary and Health and Human Services secretary. The chairman, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), said he counseled with the parliamentarian to push ahead with the vote after Democrats boycotted a previous vote. Every single Republican of the committee took part and voted to move the two selections to the Senate floor for a vote. Here’s the segment of video that was Brought forth. Note there was audio difficulties at the beginning and chairman gave comments after the vote.

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Senate GOP Suspends Rules Amid Democratic Boycott, Advances HHS Nominee Price and Treasury Nominee Mnuchin