Gay Men Reportedly Being Arrested, Killed in Russian Republic of Chechnya

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov (pictured) denies the accounts and claims there are no gay people in Chechnya.

www.advocate.com/world/2017/4/02/gay-men-being-arrested-killed-russian-republic-chechnya

Todrick Hall on his new tour, RuPaul, and, of course, The Wizard of Oz
I’ve done so many Wizard of Oz and Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella things, things that I love so much. I gotta milk this for all it’s worth, because I don’t think I can do anymore Wizard of Oz things after this for a while!

www.queerty.com/todrick-hall-new-tour-rupaul-course-wizard-oz-20170402?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Police in Chechnya Have Rounded Up at Least 100 Gay Men and are Killing Them

Police have rounded up at least 100 gay men in the southern Russian republic of Chechnya and have killed at least three of them, according to media reports.

The NYT:

On Saturday, a leading Russian opposition newspaper confirmed a story already circulating among human rights activists: The Chechen authorities were arresting and killing gay men.

…The men were detained “in connection with their nontraditional sexual orientation, or suspicion of such,” the newspaper, Novaya Gazeta, reported, citing Russian federal law enforcement officials, who blamed the local authorities.

By Saturday, the paper reported, and an analyst of the region with her own sources confirmed, that more than 100 gay men had been detained. The newspaper had the names of three murder victims, and suspected many others had died in extrajudicial killings.

Small LGBT protest in St. Petersburg after 100 gay men reportedly detained in Chechnya, 3 dead t.co/107W3rznnw

— Alec Luhn (@ASLuhn) April 2, 2017

Лгбт активисты на Марсовом поле за свободу собраний стоят pic.twitter.com/dPKzSF5KrN

— Арсений Веснин (@ars_ves) April 2, 2017

The Guardian adds:

“In Chechnya, the command was given for a ‘prophylactic sweep’ and it went as far as real murders,” Novaya Gazeta reported.

The report was denied by the spokesman of the Chechen president, Ramzan Kadyrov, who suggested there were no gay people in the Muslim-majority region.

Ali Karimov said, according to the state news agency RIA Novosti: “It’s impossible to persecute those who are not in the republic.”

“If such people existed in Chechnya, law enforcement would not have to worry about them, as their own relatives would have sent them to where they could never return,” Karimov added.

The post Police in Chechnya Have Rounded Up at Least 100 Gay Men and are Killing Them appeared first on Towleroad.

Police in Chechnya Rounding Up Gay Men and Killing Them: REPORT

Lucien Laviscount strips (twice); Boy Butter ad banned in Chicago; a sexy new male stripper doc
Also: David Beckham’s new underwear ad, directed by Guy Ritchie.

www.queerty.com/lucien-laviscount-strips-twice-boy-butter-ad-banned-chicago-sexy-new-male-stripper-doc-20170402?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Modern Gladiators

www.advocate.com/books/2017/4/02/modern-gladiators

This 78-year-old ex-priest just popped the question to his 24-year-old model boyfriend
“I’ve put the church first throughout my life,” he says. “Now, it’s time to spend my few remaining years of my life in a way I chose.”

www.queerty.com/78-year-old-ex-priest-just-popped-question-24-year-old-model-boyfriend-20170402?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Lenten Devotional: Whosoever?

This year for the season of Lent, HRC Foundation launched a campaign that aims to tell the stories of LGBTQ people of faith. The Lenten season marks the days which lead up to Jesus’ crucifixion and subsequent resurrection.

For Christians, the resurrection is both a reminder and celebration of life, yet people continue to suffer, including members of the LGBTQ community.

“A central and inspiring part of my ministry has been working to make sure the institutional church — and religion in general — is affirming and inclusive of LGBTQ persons,” said the Reverend Dr. J. Edwin Bacon, author and reverend in the Episcopal Church. “I am a more joyful and faithful priest because of that part of my work.”

We hope the meditations offered every day from Ash Wednesday to Easter on April 16, will bless souls, revive spirits, renew minds and strengthen bodies. These stories will be hosted on the HRC website and on Twitter and Facebook.

The Lenten Devotional is a faith-filled resource that compiles meditations written by 47 faith leaders from across the United States. This project and other public education work with faith leaders in HRC Alabama, HRC Arkansas and HRC Mississippi is made possible in part by the generous support of the  E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation.

I am the Christian mother of gay sons who happen to be believers in Christ as well.  

I was raised in a particular denomination that at best struggles, and at worst refuses to believe that an LGBTQ person can be a believer.

I believe in my heart differently.  

Not only can I look into the eyes of my sons and hear them confess their belief, I have been blessed to travel and speak and look into the faces of many beautiful LGBTQ individuals who know Christ as their Savior.  

Lent is a traditional observation of many Christians in preparation for the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Its’ purpose is to prepare the believer in Christ to come to the Holy Celebration of the Cross, the grave and ultimately the victory of resurrection Sunday!

The Cross of Jesus leveled the playing field for all mankind!  

No longer do we have to be of Jewish descent or meet the criteria of Old Testament law to be part of the family of God.  The sacrifice of Jesus for the sin of all mankind has been accomplished.  Now, WHOSOEVER calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved!  

WHOSOEVER means just that. LGBTQ or straight, the requirement is the same.  

In Christ there are no second class family members!  

As we move through this blessed Lenten season, how do we prepare for this family celebration?  

The royal commandment that sums up all scripture is to love the LORD your God with all you heart, soul and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself.  

One of the most powerful moments is when a person who was anti-LGBTQ comes alongside one of those ‘neighbors’ who happens to be LGBTQ and because of the life and love of that individual has a change of heart.  

WOW!

We are living in changing times.  Hearts and minds are being challenged to revisit calloused prejudices.  Many eyes are on the LGBTQ community and its’ allies.  There are still too many out there who hate, but it will not be said of us!  

As we prepare ourselves to come to the celebration of Christ’s resurrection, the world will know us by our LOVE!  

WHOSOEVER means YOU…precious, believing LGBTQ child of God!

Mary Jane Kennedy

Brandon, Mississippi

www.hrc.org/blog/lenten-devotional-whosoever?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed