Gay High School Football Star and Swimmer Boyfriend Celebrate Prom in Missouri

Back in December we reported on the story of Jake Bain, the star athlete and best football player at John Burroughs High School in Missouri. After coming out  as gay at an all-school assembly, he’s now signing with Indiana State.

More recently we reported that the Westboro Baptist Church got wind of Bain’s story as well, and planned a protest at his high school. But students planned a counterprotest that far outnumbered the WBC church members.

Now, Outsports has posted some even more heartwarming news. Bain and Hunter Sigmund, a swimmer and water polo player at the school, attended their prom together.

They’re the only openly gay couple at the school.

Said Bain: “We have been the only openly gay couple at Burroughs since I’ve been here, but it isn’t a problem at all at our school. People treat us the same. It is nice to be able to go to prom with whoever you want and not have to worry about what other people might think.”

Hear, hear.

The post Gay High School Football Star and Swimmer Boyfriend Celebrate Prom in Missouri appeared first on Towleroad.

Gay High School Football Star and Swimmer Boyfriend Celebrate Prom in Missouri

Man, 27, Gets Life in Prison for Infecting Grindr Dates with HIV by Damaging Condoms

UK hairdresser Daryll Rowe has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 12 years for intentionally transmitting the HIV virus to Grindr dates after purposefully damaging condoms.

Judge Christine Henson told Rowe that the victims are “suffering life sentences because of your cruel and senseless acts.”

Last November a jury convicted Rowe, 27, of five counts of grievous bodily harm with intent, and a further five counts of attempted grievous bodily harm for willfully infecting Grindr dates with HIV after damaging condoms.

The Guardian reported:

The court heard that Rowe repeatedly sabotaged condoms, and then mocked victims saying that he was “riddled” with the virus after they raised concerns. One man said that Rowe was “laughing” when he called, adding: “Burn. I got you.”

Rowe was first arrested in February 2016, but denied that he was HIV positive in his first police interview. The police put out a public health warning, asking men who had had sex with a man matching Rowe’s description to contact the authorities.

Rowe then went on the run in November 2016, targeting two more men in the north-east while using a fake name. When he was finally arrested, he was found with a rucksack of sabotaged condoms.

During his first interview with police, Rowe reportedly told them: “Either this is a big, dramatic lie or someone out there has actually done this. What if they are just trying to single me out. Gay people can be horrible. This is one of the reasons I left Edinburgh – there’s a lot of horrible people up there.”

More on the testimony that got Rowe convicted here.

The National AIDS Trust released a statement calling it a “deplorable crime” to intentionally transmit HIV and said “our thoughts are with the victims in this case:”

Daryll Rowe is to be sentenced today for the intentional transmission of HIV to five men and for attempting to infect a further five.
NAT comment below. pic.twitter.com/mbkLbFhgTl

— National AIDS Trust (@NAT_AIDS_Trust) April 18, 2018

The post Man, 27, Gets Life in Prison for Infecting Grindr Dates with HIV by Damaging Condoms appeared first on Towleroad.

Man, 27, Gets Life in Prison for Infecting Grindr Dates with HIV by Damaging Condoms

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: April 18, 2018

AS OTHER STATES REJECT DISCRIMINATORY MEASURES, ALL EYES ON ANTI-LGBTQ LEGISLATION IN OKLAHOMA AND KANSAS:  “Being anti-equality is not considered good politics anymore,” said HRC State Legislative Director Cathryn Oakley. More from David Crary (@CraryAP) at The Associated Press.

TOP COAST GUARD OFFICIAL COMMITS TO PROTECTING TRANS SERVICE MEMBERS: During a House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee, Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft told lawmakers, “We are certainly committed to their continued service in the United States Coast Guard. We will make sure that there is a one policy for all service members.” More from Politico.

WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO WEDNESDAY — CHICAGO’S LGBTQ-WELCOMING MOSQUE: NPR’s Leila Fadel (@LeilaFadel) speaks to the founders of Masjid al-Rabia. More from NPR.

Today in the fifth installment of our #nextgenmuslim series in collaboration with #nationalgeographic I chat with @lourdesgnavarro and then take you to an LGBTQ mosque in Chicago. t.co/9u2Iche56R

— Leila Fadel (@LeilaFadel) April 15, 2018

STANDING ROOM ONLY AS NH SENATE COMMITTEE HEARS PRO-EQUALITY BILL:  It would protect transgender people from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations. The five-hour hearing featured business leaders, healthcare experts, faith leaders, women’s safety advocates and the trans community sharing stories in support of HB 1319. More from Public News Service.

HRC GLOBAL SUMMIT BRINGS LGBTQ ACTIVISTS TOGETHER FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Last week, HRC hosted more than 30 global leaders for equality in Washington, D.C., for the third annual Global Innovative Advocacy Summit. More from Michael Lavers (@mklavers81) at Washington Blade.

NEW REPORT HIGHLIGHTS FOOD AND HOUSING NEEDS OF LGBTQ COLLEGE STUDENTS: The  alarming report finds that LGBTQ college students face a high risk of food and housing insecurities — with one in five bisexual community college students reporting experiencing homelessness. More from HRC.

TODAY IS NATIONAL TRANS HIV TESTING DAY: HRC is proud to lift up the work of Jazzmun Crayton, founder of The Midnight Stroll, a monthly after-hours outreach and HIV testing program that provides resources and hope to trans sex workers and homeless LGBTQ youth in the Hollywood area. More from South Florida Gay News and HRC.

HRC IS TRAINING STAFF IN NATION’S LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT: HRC’s Welcoming Schools Program is in New York City this week training educators and staff on building more inclusive schools for all students. More from HRC.

COMMUNITY RALLIES BEHIND ILLINOIS TEACHER PUNISHED FOR — GET THIS — RECEIVING FLOWERS ON VALENTINE’S DAY FROM HIS HUSBAND: More from NBC Chicago.

We’re with you, Mr. Etter! t.co/JSHemD9Ywl

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 18, 2018

EUROVISION WINNER CONCHITA WURST OPENS UP ABOUT HER HIV-POSITIVE STATUS: More from HuffPost.

MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY HOLDS LGBTQ “PROM” DESPITE ANTI-EQUALITY ACTIVISTS’ EFFORTS TO HAVE IT CANCELLED: The Milwaukee Catholic university held the event this weekend. More from NewNowNext.

FORMER MISS AMERICA DEIDRE DOWNS GUNN MARRIES ABBOTT JONES: The happy couple shared the exclusive with People.

Congratulations to #DrandMrsAmerica (@deidredowns and @abbottjones) on your beautiful wedding! #LoveIsLove  t.co/6CnIcjFRVM

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

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

ISRAEL TO STOP KEEPING TRANS INMATES IN ISOLATION: More from Haaretz.

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER THERESA MAY SAYS SHE “DEEPLY REGRETS” COUNTRY’S LEGACY OF ANTI-LGBTQ LAWS: More from The Guardian.

We welcome that @theresa_may deeply regrets the fact that anti-LGBT laws were introduced & legacy of discrimination. Now we need action: UK must champion LGBT rights across the Commonwealth & beyond. #CHOGM2018 @CWEquality pic.twitter.com/CgjBFf0bdO

— Stonewall (@stonewalluk) April 17, 2018

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

Washington Blade reports on the state of equality in Uganda; People interviews non-binary actor Ellie Desautels (@ohyouknowellie)

www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-tipsheet-april-18-2018?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

15 Things Trump Got Right

www.advocate.com/politics/2018/4/18/15-things-trump-got-right

Investigation Finds Facebook is Enabling Gay ‘Sex for Rent’ Arrangements Targeting Young Homeless Men

Facebook “is hosting explicit posts from landlords promising housing in return for gay sex” according to a new Buzzfeed News investigation:

In multiple interviews with the men exchanging sex for rent and groups trying to deal with the crisis, BuzzFeed News also uncovered a spectrum of experiences that goes far beyond what has so far been documented, with social media, hook-up apps, and chemsex parties facilitating everything.

At best, impoverished young men are seeking refuge in places where they are at risk of sexual exploitation. At worst, teenagers are being kept in domestic prisons where all personal boundaries are breached, where their lives are in danger.

Buzzfeed’s Patrick Strudwick investigated a Facebook group called “Gay Houseboy’s and those who hire them” (still live as of this posting) described as “group for gay men seeking gay boys to work for them as houseboys, and for gay houseboys seeking employment” which concealed a place to set up “sex for rent” arrangements between landlords and young men desperate for a roof over their head.

Writes Strudwick:

“Looking for a white male 18-25 to come and join our household for a live in position,” reads one post on the Facebook group. “General duties will include cleaning, walking dog, shopping, cooking and general house projects… This position would ideally include sex and lots of affection from our boy.”

Another is simply a photograph of a young naked man, with his penis exposed, standing by a Christmas tree with the words: “ISO [in search of] True HouseBoy 18-25 White Slim Clean.”

“Live in the heart of Hollywood” is the promise in a further post, from a landlord seeking a “houseboy/personal assistant”. The landlord boasts, “My company deals with a lot of high profile clientele”, asks that respondents send photographs, and specifies, “Prefer young (but legal age) and very uninhibited types. Boy-next-door but with a wild side.”

Others insist on respondents replying with “face and body photos”, or have strict age limits, seek houseboys “with benefits”, or are suggestive of controlling dynamics. “Married couple here 40 and 46 seeking our forever boy for total and complete ownership,” says one.

Buzzfeed also reported that many of the same arrangements were being set up on Craigslist UK, and on Craigslist US before its personals section was shut down due to new sex trafficking laws.

Strudwick spoke to several of the young men who had become involved in these arrangements and ended up “raped, beaten, drugged, infected with HIV and treated as domestic slaves.”

Buzzfeed says that so far Facebook has promised that a representative would comment but that has so far not happened.

The post Investigation Finds Facebook is Enabling Gay ‘Sex for Rent’ Arrangements Targeting Young Homeless Men appeared first on Towleroad.

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

HRC Observes National Transgender HIV Testing Day

On National Transgender HIV Testing Day, HRC is proud to lift up the work of Jazzmun Crayton, Health and Policy Coordinator at APAIT and a leader in the Los Angeles trans community.  Crayton founded The Midnight Stroll, a monthly after-hours outreach and HIV testing program that provides resources and hope to trans sex workers and homeless LGBTQ youth in the Hollywood area.  

“The Midnight Stroll was created by local community-based organizations in response to the police department’s approach in handling trans-identified individuals who were being arrested at key times when engaging in street-based sex work,” Crayton said.  “The Midnight Stroll has evolved to ensure community members who are most at risk for HIV understand the services available around Los Angeles.”

Since the program’s launch in January 2017, Crayton has seen positive changes in the community.  “We have seen a deeply profound impact on the people we are encountering during the Midnight Stroll,” said Crayton. “Since our inception, we continue to see the most vulnerable being linked to HIV testing and other supportive services. Many of the individuals we encounter are grateful that someone is out there to provide some comfort and options to deal with their specific needs and to provide assistance with navigating the complex web of social services.”

In addition to her HIV advocacy, Crayton has leveraged her career in film and television to advocate for more trans representation in the media.  “We need people to be empathic, vocal, and demand for the visibility, safety and wellbeing of our community,” said Crayton.  “We must also ensure that HIV programs and services address the complex needs of transgender and gender non-conforming individuals, with an emphasis on homelessness, which is crippling the community at large.”

Transgender individuals, particularly transgender women of color, continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV and AIDS.  Data from the CDC shows that of the 2,351 transgender individuals who were diagnosed with HIV from 2009 to 2014, 84 percent were trans women, 15 percent weren’t trans men, and one percent had another gender identity. According to the National Center for Transgender Equality, social and structural barriers create significant challenges for trans individuals to access and adhere to HIV services. These barriers include pervasive discrimination and stigma for transgender people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS; lack of data on how HIV affects trans men, negative interactions with healthcare providers and law enforcement that creates distrust of institutions and public health initiatives; and co-occurring mental health and substance abuse conditions. HRC’s “Safer Sex for Trans Bodies” is a comprehensive sexual health guide for transgender and gender expansive people and their partners that aims to address some of these disparities.

HRC is proud to sponsor a screening of Jazzmun Crayton’s documentary, “In Full Bloom…Transcending Gender” as part of the Pittsburgh Underground Film Festival.  The screening will be held on Saturday, April 21 at 1:00 p.m.  Free HIV testing will provided on-site by Allies for Health + Wellbeing.

For information on HRC Foundation’s work to end HIV and HIV-related stigma, click here.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-observes-national-transgender-hiv-testing-day?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Barbara Bush sent the religious right into orbit in 1990 when she condemned LGBT bias
But Barbara Bush’s death is a reminder that the Republican party once had a more socially liberal side.

www.queerty.com/barbara-bush-sent-religious-right-orbit-1990-condemned-lgbt-bias-20180417?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29