Monthly Archives: February 2018



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NEWS

LGBTQ Visibility Wins Gold at the Pyeongchang Olympics

LGBTQ Visibility Wins Gold at the Pyeongchang Olympics

HRC has been so proud to cheer on the incredible openly LGBTQ athletes competing in Pyeongchang at the Winter Olympics. More than 10 LGBTQ athletes from around the globe came to Pyeongchang to compete, the most ever to participate in the Winter Games.

Unfortunately, while there are many talented and successful transgender athletes around the globe, there were no openly transgender athletes competing in the Olympic Games in Pyeongchang. The same was true at the 2016 Rio Games.

From openly gay U.S. figure skater Adam Rippon’s viral social media updates to Netherlands bisexual speed skater Ireen Wüst becoming the most decorated out LGBTQ Olympian of all time, here are ten of HRC’s favorite Olympic moments:

1. Before the competions had even started, LGBTQ athletes were making headlines. Openly gay U.S. Olympians Gus Kenworthy and Adam Rippon were critical of anti-LGBTQ Mike Pence’s role in the Opening Ceremony. 

Anti-LGBTQ Mike Pence can’t hide his hatred behind misleading tweets. As @HRC‘s @cmclymer said, “He’s a soft-spoken bigot. He does a lot behind the scenes to dismantle #LGBTQ rights but is able to cover it up with his lack of verbal hostility.” #Olympics t.co/S2RKrK3pkv

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 10, 2018

2. Team Canada illustrated its commitment to LGBTQ-inclusion, hosting the Pride House for the Winter Olympics.

#TeamCanada has taken charge as an #Olympics leader in #LGBTQ-inclusion, hosting the #Pyeongchang2018 #PrideHouse. ��️‍��t.co/XcGvS4JVu6

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 16, 2018

3. Gus Kenworthy became the first person to wave a pride flag in a national commercial, featured in P&G’s “Shoulders of Greatness” campaign. 

We are so proud to call @GusKenworthy a member of the @HRC family. Thank you @ProcterGamble for sharing this special message with us. #LoveOverBias pic.twitter.com/8Y1nX4CpGo

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 22, 2018

.@ProcterGamble is a leader in #LGBTQ inclusion in the workplace, receiving a perfect 100 on @HRC‘s #CEI2018. Watch their new ad featuring out athlete @GusKenworthy, headed to the #Olympics very soon. t.co/q9WjSKL4fd

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 6, 2018

4. Openly bisexual Netherlands speed skater Ireen Wüst became not only the first out athlete to medal in Pyeongchang, but the most decorated out Olympian of all time. 

Congratulations to #bisexual speed skater Ireen Wüst (@ireenw) who is the first out #LGBTQ athlete to medal at the #Pyeongchang2018 #Olympics. With this latest win for the Netherlands, she is now the most decorated openly #LGBTQ Olympian of all time.⛸️��t.co/RSi8taKzBS

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 12, 2018

5. Openly LGBTQ Team USA athletes Brittany Bowe, Gus Kenworthy and Adam Rippon celebrated together at the opening ceremony. twitter.com/guskenworthy/status/961989267911098368]

 

With the 2018 #WinterOlympics underway in #PyeongChang, we are so proud to see out athletes like @BrittanyBowe, @GusKenworthy, and Adam Rippon (@adaripp) representing #TeamUSA ���� and giving hope to young #LGBTQ people everywhere. . . . #Repost @brittanybowe: Opening Ceremonies with the best of US #winterolympics #teamusa

A post shared by Human Rights Campaign (@humanrightscampaign) on

We’re here. We’re queer. Get used to it. @Adaripp #Olympics #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/OCeiqiY6BN

— Gus Kenworthy (@guskenworthy) February 9, 2018

6. With Canada’s gold medal in the figure skating team event, openly gay pairs skater Eric Radford became the first gay male athlete to ever win a gold medal at the Winter Games. Radford and his skating partner, Meagan Duhamel, went on to win bronze in the pairs skate.

 

Canadian athlete Eric Radford (@ericradford85) made #Olympics history last night, becoming the first openly gay athlete ever to win a gold medal at the Winter Games.�� . . . #LGBTQ #LGBT #WinterOlympics #Pyeongchang2018 #EricRadford

A post shared by Human Rights Campaign (@humanrightscampaign) on

7. In an exclusive interview with HRC’s Mark Lee, Adam Rippon shared the story of his trailblazing journey to Pyeongchang. 

Adam Rippon has made history at the #Olympics. From his incredible skating, @HRC is so proud to celebrate @Adaripp as part of our #LGBTQ family. #BestofUS ��️‍��⛸���� pic.twitter.com/7IR4iuk2ja

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 17, 2018

8. Openly LGBTQ speed skater Brittany Bowe helped propel Team USA to a bronze medal finish in the speed skating team pursuit event, the first medal in the event for the U.S. in 16 years. 

Congrats to openly #LGBTQ @BrittanyBowe and to #TeamUSA for earning bronze in the #Olympics speed skating team pursuit event this morning. #BestofUS ��️‍�������� pic.twitter.com/4Q5aCka4RS

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 21, 2018

9. At the end of a slopestyle run, NBC showed openly gay U.S. skier Gus Kenworthy sharing a kiss with his boyfriend, Matthew Wilkas. While Kenworthy may not be leaving Pyeongchang with a medal, he is a winner in our books, changing hearts and minds along his journey. 

 

.@GusKenworthy is competing in his second #Olympics, but this is his first as an openly #gay athlete. The slopestyle skier, who came out in 2015, struggled with Russia’s harsh anti-#LGBTQ climate during the Sochi games. . Tonight, he kissed his boyfriend, Matthew Wilkas (@mwilkas), on live TV. ❤️���������� . . #guskenworthy #LGBT #LoveIsLove #olympics2018 #pyongchangolympics2018 #teamUSA

A post shared by Human Rights Campaign (@humanrightscampaign) on

“Being here now, out and proud and living my life authentically, I’m walking away more fulfilled without a medal than I did at the last Games with one.” – @guskenworthy ❤️�������� t.co/0E8DFk9QBT

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 19, 2018

10. Openly gay former Olympic figure skater and current Olympics commentator Johnny Weir’s “Look of the Day” photos from Pyeongchang inspired us all to live our best lives. 

www.hrc.org/blog/lgbtq-visibility-wins-gold-at-the-pyeongchang-olympics?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

NEWS

One year after Trump revoked federal non-discrimination guidance to protect transgender students, states are emboldened to target trans youth

One year after Trump revoked federal non-discrimination guidance to protect transgender students, states are emboldened to target trans youth

State Legislatures Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Tennessee have already filed bills to ban transgender students from accessing restrooms according to their gender identity

NEW YORK – GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, released data on state bills restricting transgender student’s access to restrooms and other single-sex facilities on the one year anniversary of Secretary Betsy DeVos and Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ withdrawal of federal guidance that outlined how to protect trans students under Title IX, a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in public education.

“The Trump Administration has emboldened bullies in statehouses across the country by sending a clear message that they will not support or protect transgender youth in our nation’s schools, leaving them more vulnerable to legislative attacks,” said Zeke Stokes, Vice President of Programs at GLAAD. “Without federal support, it is exceedingly vital that the LGBTQ community and our allies double down to support transgender youth and oppose unjust legislation that promotes further discrimination, bullying, and violence.”

By walking back the Title IX guidance, the Trump Administration revoked a powerful tool for students to advocate for their rights and made it harder for students who face anti-transgender discrimination to win in courts, which often look to how federal agencies interpret laws. Additionally, just this month, the Department of Education confirmed to BuzzFeed that they will no longer investigate civil rights complaints filed by transgender youth who were banned from accessing restrooms that match their gender identity, assuring anti-trans lawmakers that they have the full support of the White House and the Department of Education when pursuing discriminatory legislation.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: 2018 Bills Restricting Transgender Students’ Access to Restrooms and Other Single-Sex Facilities

Kentucky HB 326: Prohibits transgender students from using restrooms and changing facilities that corresponds with their gender identity and would allow people to sue the school if they encounter a transgender student in the restroom.
*** This bill is based on model legislation drafted by the anti-LGBTQ hate group Alliance Defending Freedom.

Missouri SB 690: Requires transgender students to use restrooms in public schools according to the gender marker on their birth certificate.

Oklahoma SB 1223: Prohibits transgender students from using restrooms and changing facilities that correspond with their gender identity as defined by “anatomy and genetics existing at the time of birth,” and would allow people to sue the school if they encounter a transgender student in the restroom.
*** This bill is based on model legislation drafted by the anti-LGBTQ hate group Alliance Defending Freedom.

South Dakota HB 1296: A bill sponsored by legislators  who have previously supported anti-transgender legislation that would restrict transgender youth from accessing facilities that match their gender identity by requiring school boards to establish and make public policies that regulate what restrooms and locker rooms trans students must use.

Tennessee HB 888: Requires students in public schools and universities to use restroom and locker rooms in accordance to their original birth certificate.
  
Tennessee HB 2620/SB 2480: Requires the Tennessee Attorney General to represent school districts that target transgender students by adopting anti-trans restroom bans.

 

###

February 22, 2018
Tags: 

www.glaad.org/blog/one-year-after-trump-revoked-federal-non-discrimination-guidance-protect-transgender-students

MISC

Presenting Possibilities with Artist and Educator…

Presenting Possibilities with Artist and Educator…

Presenting Possibilities with Artist and Educator @naimagreen

Throughout #BlackHistoryMonth, celebrated during February in the United States and Canada, we’re highlighting next-generation creatives of color who are shaping the future of their communities. Each of the featured accounts was selected by writer, curator and activist Kimberly Drew (@museummammy).

“Naima Green (@naimagreen) has an incredibly generous mode of image-making,” says Kimberly of the Brooklyn, New York-based artist and educator. “She invites each of her subjects to breathe and imagine. In lush landscapes, subjects in the ‘Jewels from the Hinterland’ series are presented in landscapes often denied to black bodies. Many of the figures in the series are writers, community leaders and other photographers, so in one way she presents beautiful images and in the other she presents the possibility for creative change. Her work is like an encyclopedia of dope black people we’ll study in books one day.”

blog.instagram.com/post/171174266572/180222-naimagreen#_=_

MISC

Janelle Monáe tells a queer story with video for ‘Make Me Feel’

Janelle Monáe tells a queer story with video for ‘Make Me Feel’

Musician and actor Janelle Monáe dropped two new music videos this morning, including one for the track “Make Me Feel” which sees Monáe at the club as she romances a new man she meets and the woman she arrived with, played by Annihilation and Thor: Ragnarok star Tessa Thompson. For bisexual people, who remain underrepresented in media though make up the majority of the LGB community, seeing a video that tells this specific story is an important and positive step forward. Thompson also features as Monáe’s love interest in the trailer for the Dirty Computer “emotion picture,” the narrative film that will accompany the album. Check out the video below for “Make Me Feel!”

“Make Me Feel” was co-written by Justin Tranter, an out pop-songwriting powerhouse and GLAAD board member behind hits like “Centuries” by Fall Out Boy, “Believer” by Imagine Dragons, and “Good for You” and “Hands to Myself” by Selena Gomez. Monáe said of the track, “It’s a celebratory song, I hope that comes across. That people feel more free, no matter where they are in their lives, that they feel celebrated. Because I’m about women’s empowerment. I’m about agency. I’m about being in control of your narrative and your body.”

Monáe’s album Dirty Computer, dropping April 27 and available for pre-order now, will be her first solo LP since 2013’s Electric Lady. In the past several years, Monáe has turned her focus to acting and starred in the GLAAD Media Award-winning film Moonlight, which made history last year as the first LGBTQ film to win the Oscar in Best Picture.

February 22, 2018
Issues: 

www.glaad.org/blog/janelle-mon%C3%A1e-tells-queer-story-video-make-me-feel

MISC

A Tale of Two Genders

A Tale of Two Genders
70689_mediumMy name is Marshall Ragsdale . When I first took part in the NOH 8 Campaign , I was 20 years old and wanted to show my support for my LGBT friends and family – specifically, I wanted to show my love and acceptance towards my gay dad. 8 years later, however, I’ve taken part for a more personal reason: to represent the trans umbrella ! You see, my name is still Marshall Ragsdale

www.noh8campaign.com/article/a-tale-of-two-genders

MISC

What’s Next After Valentine’s Day?

What’s Next After Valentine’s Day?

February 14th creates mixed emotions for people: some celebrate their love for their partner, while others celebrate being single with friends, some enjoy the day alone with wine and ice cream and there are some don’t celebrate at all.

But what happens after Valentine’s Day?  Where do we go from Cupid’s celebration?

Here are some suggestions to put a spring in your step:

1) Pamper yourself.

It’s super important to have “me time.” It can be anything that gets you feeling spoiled.  Take a break to curl up and read that book that you keep eyeing but never get a chance pick up.  Put the headphones on to listen to the tunes that you have recently downloaded.

Have a spa day. If you don’t have time for an entire day, maybe a facial or just a pedicure. Also a hot rock massage helps melt away any stress that you might be holding in from the winter blues. It’s all about taking care of yourself.  

2) Take a class or volunteer.

Spring is the perfect time to start something new.  If there is a class on your bucket list, move it over to your accomplish list. It doesn’t have to be a full semester course, there are one night classes or classes for 6 weeks.  There are all kinds of classes out there: from cooking to photography; music to languages.  Have a look at the local colleges and any online programs in your area.  

Volunteering is all about your passion. It also flexible to work around your schedule.  The opportunities are everywhere: from dog walking at the local shelter, to reading to seniors to helping out at events. Whatever your interests are, there is a volunteer job that matches.

Both of these activities promotes self-confidence and is also a great way to meet people with similar passions.

3) Spend time with friends and family.

Nothing bond friends and family like a potluck or an afternoon out at the bowling lanes. Dust off pictionary, charades or the family favorites to spark healthy competition.  It’s relaxing and fun to be around people that have been with you through thick and thin. Enjoy the time to just release stress and be yourself.  

4) Enjoy the great outdoors.

There is something about Mother Nature that is refreshing and invigorating. For those who may not be hiking enthusiasts, there is lots to do outside.  In the winter, there is snow shoeing and skiing, also there are some local attractions that are opened all year round.  You could also play tourist for an afternoon and explore your town on foot.   The goal is to disconnect from the everyday routine to help reset and energize.

5) Spring cleaning.

Nothing helps moving on better than letting go.  Take on that one closet that you look away from every time you walk by it. Donate the clothes that you have not worn in a year to a non-profit group.  Recycle old electronics that are sitting around collecting dust. There is a sense of accomplishment and closure when you clear things out of your home that you no longer need.  

Valentine’s Day may be over for another year, some enjoyed the love and passion of it while others maybe not so much. Spring is just around the corner and it’s the perfect time to release, energize and let go.

The post What’s Next After Valentine’s Day? appeared first on PlentyOfFish Blog.

What’s Next After Valentine’s Day?

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