#AM_Equality Tipsheet: March 12, 2018

THE RESISTANCE RECLAIMS ITS TIME AT HRC’S LOS ANGELES DINNER: Said Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) about Donald Trump, just hours after he launched a fusillade of disgusting attacks during a Saturday campaign rally: “[He is] one of the most dishonorable, deceitful, and despicable people ever to hold public office.” She closed her speech at Saturday night’s HRC LA Dinner with a hopeful message, “All is not lost. I feel very confident and hopeful about the future.” Other special guests at the event included Olympians Adam Rippon and past HRC honoree Gus Kenworthy, as well as Teri Polo and Sherri Saum from ABC Family’s “The Fosters,” Josh Duhamel from “Love, Simon” and many more. HRC-backed U.S. Senate candidate Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona also spoke and Grammy Award-winning rock band Portugal. The Man performed. More from Refinery29 and Advocate.

• Morning must read: Check out this interview with Senate candidate Kyrsten Sinema from Karen Ocamb (@KarenOcamb) at The Los Angeles Blade.
• And in Florida, student-advocate and survivor of the Parkland school shooting Emma González (@Emma4Change) was honored by Equality Florida for her work to end gun violence. More from CBS Miami.

Shortly after @realDonaldTrump’s shameful comments about Rep. @MaxineWaters last night, Waters spoke at #HRCLADinner & proved why she’s become a leader of the resistance. Smart, fierce & committed to defending American values, she urged Americans to #ReclaimOurTime. pic.twitter.com/UWoHflZCX2

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

 MUST WATCH MONDAY: This weekend, Olympian Adam Rippon was honored with the HRC Visibility Award at the 2018 HRC Los Angeles Dinner. “I remember making the choice to be unafraid. I made the choice to not care what others thought of who I was. I was going to be truly me.” More from The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard.

• Watch more videos from the evening, Including Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Josh Duhamel on HRC’s YouTube page

HRC TO HONOR TY HERNDON WITH VISIBILITY AWARD AT 2018 NASHVILLE EQUALITY DINNER: “Ty Herndon is a fearless advocate for equality, and a country music trailblazer,” said HRC President Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin). “He is changing hearts and minds and using his platform to highlight issues crucial to the LGBTQ community and our fight for full equality.” More from HRC.

MILWAUKEE COMMON COUNCIL TO CONSIDER MEASURE TO PROTECT YOUTH FROM SO-CALLED “CONVERSION THERAPY”: More from The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

COOPERATIVE BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP LOSES FUNDING FOR OPENING UP SOME POSITIONS TO LGBTQ PEOPLE: Last week, the fellowship, which has nearly 1,800 churches, announced it would hire LGBTQ people, but not for leadership positions. The small step forward still fails to fully include LGBTQ faithful in the fellowship. More from The Alabama Baptist.

GIGI GORGEOUS AND NATS GETTY ARE ENGAGED! Congrats to the happy couple!

OMG I GOT ENGAGED!!!!!!!!������ Watch the whole video here t.co/y3yrbCQr7v pic.twitter.com/5Xnw2YXpCf

— Gigi (@TheGigiGorgeous) March 8, 2018

ERIK BRAVERMAN BECOMES ONE OF THE HIGHEST-LEVEL OPENLY LGBTQ EXECUTIVES IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS: In his new position, he will be serving as a senior vice president for the Los Angeles Dodgers. More from Outsports.

HORRENDOUS — TEACHER ALLEDGEDLY SUSPENDED FOR ASKING OFFICIALS TO ADD LGBTQ IDENTITY TO NONDISCRIM POLICIES: More from The Dallas Morning News.

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

OPENLY GAY PM OF IRELAND TO PUSH TRUMP-PENCE ON LGBTQ EQUALITY: While speaking to the Irish Parliament, Leo Varadkar said, “There are many of Donald Trump’s policies with which I do not agree… I [believe] strongly in individual freedom, which encompasses women’s rights and the rights of people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.” More from Pink News.

‘VOTE FOR EQUALITY’ CAMPAIGN IN COLOMBIA: LGBTQ advocates have launched the effort to educate voters on candidates’ positions on LGBTQ equality. More from The Washington Blade.

READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!

On Top Magazine announces that Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing), Tyler Ford (@tywrent) and Kenita Placide (@kennibay) will be grand marshals of the NYC Pride Parade; The New York Times shares an initiative by Black Panther’s Michael B. Jordan (@michaelb4jordan) to increase representation of women, people of color and LGBTQ people on screen; NewNowNext has the exclusive with Nancy Pelosi on her experience as a judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race; El Hormiguero entrevista a Ricky Martin para hablar sobre su rol como esposo y padre gay

www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-tipsheet-march-12-2018?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

My Grandparents Created PFLAG

Avril Swan on the legacy of love and acceptance her family built 45 years ago.
 

www.advocate.com/commentary/2018/3/12/my-grandparents-created-pflag

Taylor Swift Enlists Randy Blue Performer Kevin Falk as Her Bodyguard in ‘Delicate’: WATCH

Look closely in Taylor Swift’s new video for “Delicate” and you’ll find popular Randy Blue performer Kevin Falk in a high-profile role as one of Swift’s bodyguards.

The clip, directed by Joseph Kahn, features Swift at an event in which she suddenly becomes invisible after being handed a slip of paper.

RELATED: Troye Sivan’s Steamy New Video Features a Cockyboys Star and Other Sweaty Men in a Warehouse: WATCH

Unfortunately, Falk’s ample assets are not visible either, as he’s suited up for the entire video. Falk may have nabbed the role because he also works as security in the real world for stars including Nicki Minaj.

Falk’s is the highest-profile appearance by a male adult performer in a music video since Troye Sivan dropped “My My My” earlier this year. That clip featured Cockyboys performer Justin Brody (aka Brody Blomqvist).

The Washington Post has a lengthy analysis of the clip:

The message of the video? Even with all the perks, being one of the most powerful celebrities in the world has its drawbacks. See Swift’s miserable expression in the video on the red carpet, and the fact that when she stops to take a selfie with fans, she’s bombarded by a crazy person. Therefore, when she’s magically invisible — or simply out of the public eye — it’s the only time she’s able to be herself. Thus, the dance party.

As for the note, in the lyrics for “Delicate,” Swift receives a text from her crush that says, “Dive bar on the East Side, where you at? Come here, you can meet me in the back.” Presumably, in the video — given that she winds up at a dive bar — the note serves as that message. It’s apparently from someone she really likes, and who doesn’t care about her reputation, and that helps give her power to become invisible and joyful.

Swift won the iHeartRadio award for Female Artist of the Year last night and wasn’t there to accept, but Swift sent in a video introducing the clip for “Delicate”.

Taylor’s speech for winning Female Artist of the Year!! She’s in tour rehearsals so she can’t be there but wanted us to see the #delicatemusicvideo pic.twitter.com/u5KWcKFfRu

— Jencita (@_Jencita_) March 12, 2018

The post Taylor Swift Enlists Randy Blue Performer Kevin Falk as Her Bodyguard in ‘Delicate’: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.

Taylor Swift Enlists Randy Blue Performer Kevin Falk as Her Bodyguard in ‘Delicate’: WATCH