Are we headed for a twink takeover?
Are twinks about to go mainstream? Nick Haramis certainly thinks so!

www.queerty.com/headed-twink-takeover-guy-thinks-20180514?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

This is the Best ‘Annie’ Musical Performance by Ryan Reynolds in a Rainbow Unicorn Mask You’ll See All Day: WATCH

Ryan Reynolds appeared on the South Korean singing competition King of Mask Singer in which contestants try to win over judges while wearing ridiculous disguises such as the glittery rainbow unicorn mask you see above.

In this case, the man behind the mask was Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds, and the judges and audience were appropriately impressed by his rendition of “Tomorrow” from Annie.

Reynolds’ performance:

And the reveal:

The post This is the Best ‘Annie’ Musical Performance by Ryan Reynolds in a Rainbow Unicorn Mask You’ll See All Day: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.

This is the Best ‘Annie’ Musical Performance by Ryan Reynolds in a Rainbow Unicorn Mask You’ll See All Day: WATCH

Carla Patricia Flores-Pavon is the 9th Trans Woman Murdered in 2018

Carla Patricia Flores-Pavon, 18,  is the 9th transgender woman murdered in the U.S. this year. Dallas police labeled her death a homicide after discovering evidence she was strangled: “Police were dispatched to the scene at 4:17 p.m. and confirmed ‘suspect choked complainant causing her death’ and listed the death as a murder.”

NBC DFW reports:

Monica Roberts, a board member of Dallas-based Black Transwomen Inc., attended Sunday’s vigil at the Cathedral of Hope on Cedar Springs Road and expressed disappointment that the murder was not being handled differently.

“These murder cases tend to be exceptionally violent and we fail to understand in the community why they aren’t classified as hate crimes,” she said.

Police said a witness saw an unknown Latin male leave Flores-Pavon’s apartment shortly she was found unconscious. However, no arrests have been made.

Watch NBC DFW’s report above.

The post Carla Patricia Flores-Pavon is the 9th Trans Woman Murdered in 2018 appeared first on Towleroad.

Carla Patricia Flores-Pavon is the 9th Trans Woman Murdered in 2018

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: May 14, 2018

HRC RESPONDS TO ROLLBACK OF GUIDANCE PROTECTING SAFETY OF TRANS PRISONERS: On Friday, HRC responded to news that the Trump-Pence administration has ordered the Bureau of Prisons to use “biological sex” in determining how transgender prisoners are assigned housing, putting them at significant risk of sexual abuse, assault, and other types of discrimination. “The Obama Administration put this guidance into place after an extensive review to develop workable and reasonable procedures that would protect some of the most vulnerable people in our prison system,” said HRC Government Affairs Director David Stacy. “The decision to disregard a  transgender person’s gender identity is harmful and disrespectful. This unconscionable decision ignores medical expertise and  defies common sense. Transgender people under the control of the Bureau of Prisons will face greater risk of violence and discrimination.” Read more from HRC and BuzzFeed.

Yet another shameful action by Trump-Pence that puts an already vulnerable people at greater risk of violence and discrimination. This administration will stop at nothing to attack transgender people. t.co/1cGPQnbGyp

— Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) May 12, 2018

PENCE SPEAKS AT ANTI-LGBTQ HILLSDALE COLLEGE: “It tells you a lot about who Mike Pence really is that he’s elevating and celebrating an institution like Hillsdale College, with its troubling history of rejecting its LGBTQ students,” said HRC Government Affairs Director David Stacy, about Pence’s attendance Saturday. “The college is consistently ranked among the worst for LGBTQ students and has been openly hostile to LGBTQ people.” Read more from HRC, and find out who “The Real Mike Pence” is here.

HRC RESPONDS TO OKLA. GOV. MARY FALLIN SIGNING ANTI-LGBTQ BILL: HRC condemned Fallin for signing the anti-LGBTQ bill SB 1140, a bill that would allow child welfare organizations — including adoption and foster care agencies — to turn away qualified Oklahomans seeking to care for a child in need, including LGBTQ couples, among others. “It is shameful that Gov. Mary Fallin has signed into law a patently discriminatory law that targets children,” said JoDee Winterhof, Senior Vice President of Policy and Political Affairs at the Human Rights Campaign. “Gov. Fallin has cemented her legacy, siding with discrimination and the legislature in throwing kids under the bus to create a ‘license to discriminate’ against LGBTQ Oklahomans. With this action, Oklahoma has the negative distinction of being the only state[s] to sign an anti-LGBTQ bill into law this year.” Read more from HRC.

After Oklahoma @GovMaryFallin signed dangerous and discriminatory #SB1140 on Friday night, the Sooner State now has the negative distinction of being the only state this year to sign into law an anti-#LGBTQ bill. t.co/6AAoNtwpCE

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

MONDAY MUST READ — “WE NEED MORE LGBTQ WOMEN IN ELECTIVE OFFICE”: In a piece for Advocate, Stephanie Sandberg (@smsandberg), Executive Director of LPAC, which works to elect LGBTQ women to political office, makes the case for the urgency of the this endeavour. “We need leaders who understand what it means to stand up to bullies, to advocate for the full mosaic that is the American electorate — leaders whose intersectional identities enable them to be broadly representational, and whose visibility alone begins to change culture,” Sandberg says. Read the full piece here.

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION MAY BE CENSORING LGBTQ CONTENT: Not long after the Trump-Pence administration took office, LGBTQ resources were removed from the SBA’s website, writes Brooke Sopelsa (@brookesopelsa) of NBC Out. Officials said the page was “under construction and review,” along with several others; but almost a year and a half later, the SBA’s LGBTQ pages remain deactivated while other pages have been reactivated. We’re crying foul, and others are too — last week, two Democratic lawmakers sent a letter to the SBA, calling out its failure to reactivate the page so LGBTQ people can access resources they need. Read the full story here.

HRC’S LESLIE HALL (@MrLeslieHall) SELECTED AS BLACK ENTERPRISE MODERN MAN 100 HONOREE: Reporter Tyrus Townsend interviews Hall about what the honor means to him, projects he’s working on, and advice he has to offer. Read the full interview at Black Enterprise.

.@HRC Foundation’s HBCU Associate Director @MrLeslieHall is featured as one of @BEModernMan’s 100 Honorees. Congrats, Leslie! #BEModernMan t.co/Hm6VyulFym

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) May 11, 2018

NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ADVANCES PROTECTIONS FOR LGBTQ STUDENTS: “These protections are long overdue and can make all the difference to the countless transgender and gender diverse youth facing harassment and bullying every day simply for being who they are,” said Briana Escamilla, HRC Nevada State Manager. “When students are free from fear of discrimination, they can develop their strengths and thrive socially, emotionally and academically. We hope school districts across Nevada will move quickly to implement inclusive policies that protect the safety and wellbeing of every student.” Read more from HRC.

HRC ENDORSES TIPPI McCULLOUGH FOR ARK. HOUSE: “Tippi’s voice would be invaluable in the Arkansas House of Representatives, at a time when it is crucial for LGBTQ people to be a part of the conversation inside the Arkansas Capitol,” said Ben Needham, director of strategic initiatives for the Human Rights Campaign. “HRC is proud to work alongside Tippi and her campaign, and we look forward to working with her when she takes her seat under the dome.” Read more from HRC.

HRC RESPONDS TO REPUBLICAN PARTY OF WISC. ENDORSING ANTI-LGBTQ EXTREMIST LEAH VUKMIR FOR U.S. SENATE: An anti-LGBTQ extremist, Vukmir is out of touch with the majority of Wisconsinites who support equality.  “Leah Vukmir has no place in the United States Senate,” said HRC Wisconsin State Manager Wendy Strout. “She has consistently worked to undermine LGBTQ equality, and built a disturbing record that demonstrates a long standing hostility to some of Wisconsin’s most marginalized and vulnerable communities.” Read more from HRC.

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

ARGENTINIAN SPORTS CHANNEL LAUNCHES AD MOCKING RUSSIA’S “GAY PROPAGANDA” BAN AHEAD OF WORLD CUP: More from Newsweek.

TRANSGENDER COUPLE MARRIES IN INDIA: In a first for the state of Kerala, Surya and Ishaan Shaan married last week. The wedding took place after a change in Indian law to allow transgender people to marry. More from Pink News.

LGBTQ ACTIVISTS IN SERBIA EXPAND EFFORTS OUTSIDE OF CAPITAL: They’ve opened a new LGBTQ community center in Novi Sad, helping to expand their efforts beyond the capital Belgrade. Read more from INTO.

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

On Top Mag showcases Chandler Massey’s (@ChandlerMassey) speech at HRC Atlanta Dinner last weekend; Business Insider takes a look at the work and career of Evan Rachel Wood (@evanrachelwood), actress and bisexual LGBTQ activist; People interviews singer Rita Ora (@RitaOra) on her new bisexul anthem, ‘Girls,’ inspired by her own sexuality;

Have news? Send us your news and tips at [email protected]. Click here to subscribe to #AM_Equality and follow @HRC for all the latest news. Thanks for reading!

www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-tipsheet-may-14-2018?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Michael Medrano and Steve Grand are Trying to ‘Heal’ — WATCH

Singer-songwriter Steve Grand joins fellow recording artist Michael Medrano on “Heal”, a new duet about a broken relationship, with each musician taking the role of a hurt lover, harmonizing about their pain.

Accompanying the new track is a lyric video featuring grainy images of the two singers.

Michael Medrano / Instagram

Medrano, an L.A.-based singer-songwriter with two other singles under his belt, reached out to Grand to appear on the track and he recorded the second verse and chorus but the two didn’t meet until recently, Medrano told GSN:

“He emailed us back pretty quickly saying he loved the song and was happy to be a part of the project! So we exchanged emails for awhile, sent ideas back and forth and the rest is history. We didn’t meet in person until he was in California recording his upcoming album. He invited me to sit in on the session and took his lunch hour to shoot the single cover. He’s so talented, sweet and just a pleasure to be around. I’m genuinely so happy that we reached out to him for the song — it was a perfect match.”

Listen to “Heal” —

The post Michael Medrano and Steve Grand are Trying to ‘Heal’ — WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.

Michael Medrano and Steve Grand are Trying to ‘Heal’ — WATCH