Grindr VP Apologizes for Sharing User HIV Statuses: WATCH



Grindr’s Vice President of Social Impact Jack Harrison-Quintana appears in a video from the company and apologizes after news emerged this week that Grindr had shared user HIV statuses with third parties.

Says Harrison-Quintana in the clip (above): I want to say at the outset very clearly that we have never and would never sell any user data, especially HIV information, to advertisers, or anyone else.”

The company announced earlier this week that it would stop sharing user HIV data in response to outrage over the revelation.

The company’s security chief Bryce Case also told Axios that its information sharing practices were misunderstood and the company was “singled out.”

Said Case, explaining that the info was being shared with a “software platform we use for debugging and optimization purposes” and not one used to sway elections: “It’s conflating an issue and trying to put us in the same camp where we really don’t belong.”

Harrison-Quintana said only “trusted contractors” receive the data in order to deliver new features and roll out messages to users.

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Grindr VP Apologizes for Sharing User HIV Statuses: WATCH

State Lawmakers Emphasize Crucial Need to Pass the Pennsylvania Fairness Act

Today, HRC released the following statement after Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf and state lawmakers renewed calls for the passage of SB 613, the Pennsylvania Fairness Act.

“We welcome these renewed calls to pass the Pennsylvania Fairness Act, which would extend equal and comprehensive non-discrimination protections to LGBTQ Pennsylvanians,” said HRC Pennsylvania State Manager Allison Van Kuiken. “But Governor Wolf and the bill’s cosponsors cannot drive progress alone. For too long, lawmakers in the General Assembly have refused to take action to protect the thousands of LGBTQ Pennsylvanians at risk of losing their jobs or being denied services simply because of who they are. Make no mistake, come November, the overwhelming majority of Pennsylvania voters who support equality will hold their lawmakers accountable at the ballot box. No matter who they are or whom they love, all Pennsylvanians deserve to be able to live, work and thrive in their communities free from unfair and unjust discrimination.”

The bipartisan Pennsylvania Fairness Act, which was first introduced in the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 2015, would update the state’s non-discrimination law to explicitly include protections for LGBTQ people from discrimination at work, in housing, and in public places. While both chambers have so far failed to show the leadership needed to take action on the critically important legislation, dozens of Pennsylvania municipalities have passed separate ordinances to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, including Pittsburgh, Lancaster, Erie, Harrisburg, Scranton, and Philadelphia.

HRC recently launched HRC Rising, the largest grassroots expansion in its history that will include significant investments in Pennsylvania ahead of the 2018 midterm elections.

www.hrc.org/blog/state-lawmakers-emphasize-crucial-need-to-pass?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Google’s documentary “Umbrella” spotlights trans trailblazers

www.glaad.org/blog/google%E2%80%99s-documentary-%E2%80%9Cumbrella%E2%80%9D-spotlights-trans-trailblazers

Adam Rippon shows off his other huge talent
Adam Rippon is a man of many talents and he’s excited to show them off for you.

www.queerty.com/adam-rippon-shows-off-huge-talent-20180405?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Professor: If Women Wear Jeans and Shirts ‘Like Men,’ They Will Have Transgender Kids

Dr. Rajith Kumar by Mr. Asaru (CC BY S.A. 4.0)

A controversial botany professor has sparked outrage by claiming that women who wear jeans and shirts give birth to transgender children because they are dressing “like men”. Dr Rajith Kumar, who lectures at the Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit in Kerala, India, made the comments during an “awareness” class for students, reported The Times of India.…

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www.towleroad.com/2018/04/transgender-jeans/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+towleroad%2Ffeed+%28Towleroad+Gay+News+%29

Who would Kathy Griffin save — Andy Cohen or Anderson Cooper? (Trick question)

www.queerty.com/kathy-griffin-save-andy-cohen-anderson-cooper-trick-question-20180405?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Dr. Evil Got Fired from Trump’s Cabinet and He’s Here to Tell All: WATCH

Mike Myers returned as Dr. Evil to The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to discuss his firing from Trump’s cabinet.

Asked what role he had at the White House, he replied: “Naturally I was going to be Secretary of Evil, but Steve Bannon got that job.”

When quizzed on his accomplishments while on the job, he replied, “All the evil stuff was me.”

“Even deporting DREAMers?”, asked Fallon.

“No Jimmy, even I have my limits. I’m evil but I’m not a monster.”

When asked if he made any friends there, Evil replied: “I got along swimmingly with Ben Carson…we were both evil doctors that didn’t know why we were there.”

Evil also had some comments about various other White House figures.

Donald Trump Jr: “That guys creepy AF. He looks like he’s missing a facial feature you just don’t know which one.”

Jared Kushner: “That bitch begone!”

And Evil said he’s planning on running for president with the only man who’s hated more than Donald Trump right now: Mark Zuckerberg.

“Hey America, get ready to be poked!”

The post Dr. Evil Got Fired from Trump’s Cabinet and He’s Here to Tell All: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.

Dr. Evil Got Fired from Trump’s Cabinet and He’s Here to Tell All: WATCH

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: April 5, 2018

MARYLAND STATE LEGE SENDS BILL TO PROTECT YOUTH FROM “CONVERSION THERAPY” TO GOVERNOR HOGAN:  “All children deserve to live their lives authentically and should never be subjected to the abusive practice of so-called conversion therapy,” said HRC Senior Vice President for Policy and Political Affairs JoDee Winterhof. “This dangerous and ​inhumane practice has no basis in science and is ​uniformly rejected by every major mental health ​organization in the country. We thank the state legislators who voted to protect LGBTQ youth and now call on Governor Hogan to sign this crucially important legislation.” If signed by Governor Hogan, Maryland would join the growing number of states and municipalities adopting critical protections for LGBTQ youth. More from HRC, Metro Weekly, NewNowNext and The Associated Press.

BREAKING: The Maryland legislature passed #SB1028, a bill that will protect #LGBTQ youth from “conversion therapy.” We call on @GovLarryHogan to sign this critical legislation. #MDLeg t.co/zaKTKJGiGi pic.twitter.com/2Q2y7jE5YM

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 4, 2018

AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (AMA) SLAMS TRUMP-PENCE BAN ON TRANS TROOPS: In a letter sent to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, the AMA said the ban “mischaracterized and rejected the wide body of peer-reviewed research on the effectiveness of transgender medical care.” More from Politico.

THANKFUL THURSDAY: The HRC Foundation recently released the annual Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), which scores healthcare facilities on policies and practices dedicated to the equitable treatment and inclusion of their LGBTQ patients, visitors and employees. A record 626 healthcare facilities actively participated in this year’s survey — with 418 earning top score of 100. Read this deep-dive from Julie Moreau (@JEMoreau) in NBC.

• Tari Hanneman, Director of HRC’s Health Equality Project discusses advancing health equity for the LGBTQ community in a new video from Patient Orator.

HEY TUCKER CARLSON — YOUR IGNORANCE IS SHOWING: On his show Tuesday night, less than a week after International Transgender Day of Visibility, Tucker Carlson claimed transgender people don’t exist. The truth is, the trans community is proud, diverse and vibrant. Meet some of the changemaking advocates we featured on #TransDayofVisibility here.

REP. MARK POCAN SOUNDS OFF ON BETSY DEVOS’ ATTACKS ON TRANS STUDENTS: He writes, “Secretary DeVos has consistently shown her willful ignorance when failing to visit underperforming schools, as well as her mean-spirited, anti-LGBT views when denying rights to certain students. At some point, she should realize that as Secretary of Education, she is supposed to represent all students, not just a select few.” More from Newsweek.

• Yesterday, DeVos met with education and civil rights leaders to decide the fate of Obama-era guidance designed to reduce racism in schools. HRC joined a letter supporting the guidance, and calling out DeVos for excluding key groups from the discussion. More from HuffPost.

MORNING MUST READ, “I AM A TRANSGENDER TENNESSEAN, AND I AM CONCERNED THAT I AM UNWELCOME AT HOME”: HB 2620, an anti-transgender bill that would force the State Attorney General to defend or pay for the defense of anti-transgender policies adopted by schools, was sent to the Finance, Ways & Means Committee for a hearing yesterday, where the bill was “taken off notice,” meaning it likely will not move forward. More from The Tennessean.

LGBTQ ADVOCATES DEFEAT GEORGIA BILL THAT WOULD GIVE CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES A LICENSE TO DISCRIMINATE: HRC worked on the ground with Georgia Equality to help defeat this bill. More from WRBL.

CALIFORNIA BILL WOULD PROTECT TRANS INMATES FROM DISCRIMINATION: The bill would require that inmates have their names and pronouns respected. More from The Bay City Beacon.

NEW STUDY FINDS LESBIAN AND BI WOMEN TWICE AS LIKELY TO HAVE TEEN PREGNANCY: The research from Harvard, the City University of New York and San Diego State cites bullying and family rejection contribute to the harrowing statistic. More from NBC.

This @NBCNews article illustrates why #LGBTQ teens need sex education that appropriately addresses their identities and experiences. Comprehensive, LGBTQ-inclusive sex ed is vital for teenagers to live safe and healthy lives. t.co/1x0C9t0pAq

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 4, 2018

HOUSTON’S LGBTQ MAGAZINE, OUTSMART, CELEBRATES 25 YEARS: Andrew Edmonson (@AndrewEdmonson) details the growth Houston’s LGBTQ community has seen since the magazine’s founding. Read about it in OutSmart.

HRC YOUTH AMBASSADOR DEBUNKS 10 MYTHS ABOUT BEING INTERSEX: More from Jonathan Leggette (@Johnny_boy24) and GLAAD.

#MustRead: @HRC Youth Ambassador Jonathan Leggette (@Johnny_boy24) debunks 10 myths about being intersex. t.co/eEA4I0uoX3

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 4, 2018

“THE SOUNDBOARD WITH ELTON JOHN” HONORS HIS CAREER: More about the audio program from Variety.

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

NEW ZEALAND LEGISLATION WILL CLEAR CRIMINAL RECORD OF LGBTQ PEOPLE CHARGED UNDER REPEALED LAW CRIMINALIZING SAME-SEX SEXUAL ACTIVITY: More from BBC.

CARNIVAL CRUISES TO SUPPORT BERMUDAN LGBTQ ADVOCATES IN THE FIGHT TO REINSTATE MARRIAGE EQUALITY: More from The Daily Beast.

RIO DE JANEIRO’S MUNICIPAL COORDINATOR FOR SEXUAL DIVERSITY SHOT AT: More from Folha de S.Paulo.

DISGUSTING — MALAYSIAN UNIVERSITY HOLDS “CONTEST” TO CONVERT LGBTQ STUDENTS TO STRAIGHT OR CISGENDER: More from NBC.

ADVOCATES IN SWAZILAND ARE PLANNING TO HOLD THE COUNTRY’S FIRST LGBTQ PRIDE FESTIVAL IN JUNE: More from The Daily Beast.

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

Bustle shares an epic clapbackfrom Alyson Stoner (@AlysonStoner), who called out people who conflate gender expression and sexual orientation; The Associated Press reports that Rob Moolman (@robmoolman) is the new director of the Utah Pride Center; Eater explores a new database for marginalized voices in the food industry; The New York Times profiles trans advocate Eddie Izzard (@eddieizzard); Variety highlights the country music stars supporting LGBTQ equality; Autostraddle gives advice for coming out as non-binary in high school

www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-tipsheet-april-5-2018?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed