Prediction: What the ‘Drag Race’ lip sync really means for elimination
We’re taking a quick look at the other times when neither of the bottom two went home, what it meant for the competitors, and whether we can use that knowledge to predict anything about Season 10’s outcome.

www.queerty.com/prediction-drag-race-lip-sync-really-means-elimination-20180524?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Federal Court Rules in Favor of Pennsylvania School District’s Trans-Inclusive Policy

HRC released the following statement in response to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit’s unanimous decision upholding Boyertown Area School District’s LGBTQ-inclusive school policy.

“As the Trump-Pence Administration and anti-equality activists continue to attack our school children, federal courts nationwide are reaffirming the legal rights and dignity of transgender people,” said HRC Legal Director Sarah Warbelow. “School should be a safe space for all youth, and we commend the Boyertown Area School District for not only implementing an LGBTQ-inclusive policy, but for fighting to protect their most vulnerable and marginalized students.”

On behalf of an anonymous group of students and parents, the notoriously anti-LGBTQ Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), filed suit against the Boyertown Area School District, over an inclusive school policy that allowed transgender students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that correspond with their gender identity. After ADF’s request was rejected in August, the case was sent to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit which today upheld the school’s policy. 

Many federal courts have affirmed that Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and other federal nondiscrimination laws prohibit discrimination against transgender people, including with respect to restroom access. Just yesterday for example, a federal court once again ruled in favor of Gavin Grimm, a transgender student who in 2014 successfully sued his school district over their discriminatory bathroom policy. That decision also reaffirmed a 2016 ruling by the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Whitaker v. Kenosha Unified School District that held “a policy that requires an individual to use a bathroom that does not conform with his or her gender identity punishes that individual for his or her gender non‐conformance, which in turn violates Title IX.”

www.hrc.org/blog/federal-court-rules-in-favor-of-pa-school-districts-trans-inclusi?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

POF’s Updated Privacy Policy

Our privacy policy just got a boost. Here’s what you need to know about the changes… Your love life is your business. We respect the trust you’ve given us because, let’s face it, matters of the heart are private. As professionals in the field of building connections, we, at Plenty of Fish, know that transparency […]

The post POF’s Updated Privacy Policy appeared first on PlentyOfFish Blog.

POF’s Updated Privacy Policy

Our Privacy Policy Just Got a Boost — Here’s What You Need to Know About the Changes

We all know your swipes are your business. We respect the trust you’ve given us because let’s face it, swiping is a private matter. As part of our ongoing commitment to transparency and the requirements of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we’ve updated our privacy policy for everyone to understand what information we collect, why we collect it, and how we use it.

Here are a few highlights:

• We want to be transparent: behind the scenes, the way we process your data to connect to potential matches remains the same and so will your swiping experience. We’ve clarified our existing policies without the legal jargon to help you understand the choices you have to manage, export, and delete your data.

• We make it easy for you to download your personal data anytime on Tinder through the Download my Data tool.

• We are global and uniform. Our updated policy addresses the new standards put in place by the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), but we are rolling it out globally. All users deserve to have their data protected and understand how it’s being used.

We will continue to evaluate and enhance our policies in order to give you the best experience possible.

We encourage you to check out our new policy here.

blog.gotinder.com/privacy-policy-update/

Mental Health Awareness Takes More Than Just One Month

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, let’s encourage young people — and especially LGBTQ youth — to speak openly and honestly about their mental health. A recent  survey of LGBTQ youth by HRC and the University of Connecticut’ reaffirmed that, sadly, mental health disparities between LGBTQ youth and non-LGBTQ youth continue to widen, an alarming trend that we must work together to address.

Today’s LGBTQ youth continue to face a variety of stressors—harassment, family and peer rejection, bullying from their peers, isolation and a lack of a sense of belonging—that have a major impact on their overall well-being. Studies have shown that, compared to their non-LGBTQ peers, LGBTQ youth report much higher rates of depression, anxiety, alcohol and drug use, and lowered self-esteem.

Eighty-five percent of thosesurveyed for HRC’s LGBTQ youth report rated their average stress level a ‘5’ or higher on a scale of 10 where ‘10’ was very stressed and ‘1’ was not stressed. This includes 14 percent of respondents who rated their average stress level as a ‘9’ or higher.

Many respondents described feelings of isolation and anxiety about seeking support for their mental health needs:

“In freshman year I spoke to one of my counselors about my depression and anxiety, but I don’t think they’re trained in helping LGBTQ+ kids.”

“The counselors at my school have never said whether we can come to them about LGBTQ subjects or not. So you really don’t know if they are well educated about the LGBTQ community…”

“A stranger, even a school counselor, is very dangerous to LGBTQ+ people and children. They can ruin your entire life, get you kicked out of your home by your parents, or make other teachers treat you awfully and make your school experience miserable. They can even get you killed by outing you without your permission, which they are usually ‘expected’ to do.”

Access to culturally-competent, LGBTQ-affirming mental health providers both within schools and in the broader health care system is essential to the well-being of LGBTQ teens. Every mental health and medical professional can play a role in changing the landscape for LGBTQ youth by reinforcing inclusive, supportive and loving environments in homes, schools and communities.

We must use Mental Health Awareness Month as a catalyst to start having open, honest discussions about mental health with young people, a key step to reducing stigma and  empowering them to seek help and support when needed. And we must continue to chip away at the bias, discrimination, and rejection that place LGBTQ youth at high risk of compromised mental health.

If you or someone you know are in need of help or assistance, contact The Trevor Project, which runs phone and text chat support lines specifically for LGBTQ youth.

To read the full results of the 2017 LGBTQ Teen Survey, check out hrc.im/YouthReport.

www.hrc.org/blog/mental-health-awareness-takes-more-than-just-one-month?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

HRC Joins the Call for Peace Corps to End Dismissals of Volunteers Newly Diagnosed with HIV

HRC has joined Treatment Access Group (TAG) and other HIV advocates and organizations to call on the Peace Corps to revise its policies regarding volunteers who are newly diagnosed with HIV. According to recent media reports, two Peace Corps volunteers were informed that their assignments would be terminated as a result of their recent HIV diagnosis. Worryingly, reports have also emerged of Peace Corps officials denying volunteers’ requests for PrEP, also known as pre-exposure prophylaxis, a once-daily pill used to prevent HIV.  

“These policies are outdated and harmful to Peace Corps volunteers living with HIV or seeking effective prevention tools,” said Peter Cruz, associate director of HRC’s HIV and Health Equity Program. “We join fellow HIV advocates in asking the Peace Corps to act quickly to modernize their HIV policies and practices.”

Recent advances in HIV treatment and prevention have brought us closer than ever to ending the HIV epidemic. Today, we know that people living with HIV who adhere to antiretroviral therapy and maintain viral suppression have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to their partners. Additionally, the CDC states that the use of PrEP reduces the risk of acquiring HIV from sex by more than 90 percent, and by more than 70 percent among people who inject drugs.

HRC joins TAG and other advocates in urging the Peace Corps to update its HIV and AIDS policies to ensure that they align with current HIV science and information.

To read the sign-on letter to Peace Corps, click here.

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

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-joins-the-call-for-peace-corps-to-end-dismissals-of-volunteers-newly-di?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

The Blueprint to Your Dream Wedding

Planning the perfect wedding can be a daunting task. The average couple in the US has between 12-18 months from the time that they become engaged to the day of their wedding. This may seem like you have ample time, however if you aren’t regularly sticking to a wedding planning checklist, time may sneak up […]

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The Blueprint to Your Dream Wedding