Moms For Equality: Kelly Rippon on Treating Everyone Equally with Dignity and Respect

In honor of Mother’s Day, a star-studded lineup of Moms have joined HRC in advocating and standing up for their own kids and millions of LGBTQ youth across the country.

Today’s post featured below comes from Olympian Adam Rippon’s mom, Kelly Rippon, who urges HRC members and supporters to protect young LGBTQ people.

I’m so thrilled to be celebrating this Mother’s Day with you –– in my “Fight Like A Mother” t-shirt, of course! Today, I put it on to remind me of what my family is all about: treating everyone equally … with dignity … and with respect.

Everyone, LGBTQ or otherwise, should get to live as freely as Adam does –– and, as one of HRC’s Moms for Equality, I’m committed to making that happen. Will you join me as an HRC member today?

This whole campaign has become such a family affair. All of us are in this fight for LGBTQ equality … for Adam, of course, but also for all those young people like him who haven’t had an easy time openly being themselves. They need allies to support them, now more than ever!

Adam went to PyeongChang to represent the United States as a member of the 2018 Olympic Team. He offered more than three impeccable performances. He offered hope to many who watched an openly gay man evolve as America’s sweetheart. Adam’s honest, engaging interviews and incredible composure under pressure exemplified the true spirit of the Olympic Games.

I am very proud of his selection to the Olympic team, even prouder that his stellar performances contributed to his team medal, but most proud of him for making “being yourself” popular again and sharing his Olympic platform with the fight against discrimination that many LGBTQ people still face today.

As his mother and a member of HRC, I’ll support him at every turn. On behalf of all the Moms for Equality, I hope you’ll join me as a member of HRC and work to build a better tomorrow.

Whether you’re a Mom for Equality, a parent, a friend or part of the LGBTQ community, we hope that you join HRC and snag a limited-edition ”Fight Like a Mother” t-shirt today.

www.hrc.org/blog/moms-for-equality-kelly-rippon-on-treating-everyone-equally-with-dignity-an?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Wisconsin GOP Backs Anti-Equality Candidate in U.S. Senate Race

Leah Vukmir, vying to run against Tammy Baldwin in November, has “a disturbing record,” says the Human Rights Campaign.

www.advocate.com/politicians/2018/5/12/wisconsin-gop-backs-anti-equality-candidate-us-senate-race

Oregon School District Accused of Discrimination Against LGBT Students

North Bend school officials are accused of, among other things, forced Bible readings and failure to address homophobic bullying.

www.advocate.com/youth/2018/5/12/oregon-school-district-accused-discrimination-against-lgbt-students

Republican Party of Wisconsin Endorses Anti-LGBTQ Extremist Leah Vukmir for U.S. Senate

HRC responded to the Republican Party of Wisconsin’s vote to endorse State Senator Leah Vukmir for the United States 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. Wisconsinites will not stand for a candidate who is a threat to our progress and the values we hold dear.”

Throughout her almost two decades in public office, Vukmir has derailed efforts to pass commonsense protections for the LGBTQ community, including protections for LGBTQ youth facing discrimination and bullying at school. She is a long time opponent of marriage equality and has close ties to some of the nation’s most virulently anti-LGBTQ organizations, such as the Family Research Council. Vukmir has consistently voted against pro-equality legislation and has pushed for a license to discriminate in the health care system that would prioritize  physicians’ beliefs over life-saving patient care. In addition to her attacks on the LGBTQ community, Vukmir’s extremist agenda also includes attacks on voting rights; health care including reproductive rights and mental health treatment; education; and the environment.

In Wisconsin, HRC has identified more than 560,000 “Equality Voters” — voters who support LGBTQ-inclusive policies including marriage equality, equitable family law, and laws that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. HRC has prioritized investments and organizing in Wisconsin in the 2018 cycle, and has already put staff and resources on the ground in the state. Last year, HRC announced a coast-to-coast campaign called HRC Rising, which represents the largest grassroots expansion in the organization’s 38-year history.

www.hrc.org/blog/republican-party-of-wisconsin-endorses-anti-lgbtq-extremist-leah-vukmir-for?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Chris Mazdzer’s fur, Olly Murs’ biggun, & Austin Armacost’s ménage à trois
Instagram + studs = Instastuds

www.queerty.com/chris-mazdzers-fur-olly-murs-biggun-austin-armacosts-menage-trois-20180512?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Oklahoma Governor Signs Bill Legalizing Discrimination Against Gay Couples Who Want to Adopt

Adoption and foster care agencies in Oklahoma can now deny gay couples who want to adopt or be foster parents based on the agency’s religious beliefs, thanks to a bill signed into law by Governor Mary Fallin on Friday.

Oklahoma is the first state in 2018 to write anti-LGBT discrimination into law, and Kansas may follow with a similar bill awaiting the signature of Governor Jeff Colyer.

Writes Currey Cook, Counsel and Director, Youth in Out-of-Home Care Project, Lambda Legal: “With the stroke of a pen, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin earns the dubious honor of becoming the first governor in 2018 to write anti-LGBT discrimination into law and withhold loving homes from Oklahoma children. We will work hard to ensure other governors will think twice before adding their names to this roll of heartlessness and cruelty. There are children in the Oklahoma child welfare system in desperate need of loving families. And there are loving and qualified LGBT individuals and couples in Oklahoma who want nothing more than to give those children the warm, caring and safe environment they deserve. SB 1140, much like SB 284 in Kansas, works to withhold those families from those children. It gives special permission to religiously-affiliated government-funded child welfare agencies to place the agencies’ beliefs above the needs and best interests of children in care and discriminate against parents who are trying to provide a loving home. We hope that other governors, most immediately Kansas Gov. Colyer, will not follow Oklahoma’s example and will put the needs of the child first. To deny qualified parents eager to foster or adopt children in need of loving homes because of their sexual orientation or gender-identity or particular religious belief is not only wrong, but impacts the most vulnerable the most.”

Said JoDee Winterhof, Senior Vice President of Policy and Political Affairs at the Human Rights Campaign: “It is shameful that Gov. Mary Fallin has signed into law a patently discriminatory law that targets children. 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. Oklahoma’s leaders must live with that, and live with the reputational fallout that it may bring. This is wrong.”

Said Troy Stevenson, Executive Director of Freedom Oklahoma: “While we are deeply disappointed that Governor Fallin choose to sign discrimination into law, we are more concerned about the children – desperately looking for homes – that will be harmed by this disgraceful legislation. And the countless young people who will be stigmatized by state sanctioned hate. Make no mistake, we will fight for the most vulnerable Oklahomans targeted by this law. Our message to Governor Fallin, and the lawmakers who championed this travesty is simple: we’ll see you in court!”

The AP adds:

Fallin’s action drew support from Oklahoma’s Catholic bishops.

“The new law will bring more adoption services to the state and allow crucial faith-based agencies to continue their decades-long tradition of caring for Oklahoma’s most vulnerable children,” the bishops said in a statement.

The post Oklahoma Governor Signs Bill Legalizing Discrimination Against Gay Couples Who Want to Adopt appeared first on Towleroad.

Oklahoma Governor Signs Bill Legalizing Discrimination Against Gay Couples Who Want to Adopt

Michael Avenatti Trolls Giuliani with Old Clip of Trump Hitting on Him in Drag: ‘I’m Not the Only Pimp’

Late on Friday, Stormy Daniels lawyer Michael Avenatti fired back at Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani after Giuliani trashed Avenatti to Business Insider: “I don’t get involved with pimps. The media loves to give him room because he makes these roundabout charges and they turn out to mean nothing. I think he’s going to get himself in serious trouble.”

Giuliani’s statement was in response to a debate challenge from Avenatti, who tweeted on Tuesday: “I think it would be very helpful for the public to witness a discussion between Mr. Giuliani and me concerning the facts of the case, etc. I am willing to participate on any network provided both sides are provided a fair shake. I am also willing to do it on 12-hrs notice.”

I think it would be very helpful for the public to witness a discussion between Mr. Giuliani and me concerning the facts of the case, etc. I am willing to participate on any network provided both sides are provided a fair shake. I am also willing to do it on 12-hrs notice.

— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) May 8, 2018

Avenatti fired back, with a link to a video of Trump hitting on Giuliani while the then-mayor was in drag, made for the  Inner Circle Press Roast in 2000.

Tweeted Avenatti: “Hey Rudy – It turns out I’m not the only “pimp” you have experience with. History evidently is repeating itself. #pimped #basta”

Hey Rudy – It turns out I’m not the only “pimp” you have experience with. History evidently is repeating itself. #pimped #bastat.co/YUmzf0c2oT

— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) May 11, 2018

Giuliani also told Politico on Friday: “I wouldn’t debate that guy if they paid me $10 million. He’s a liar. All he does is put out statements in the press and they fawn all over him.”

The post Michael Avenatti Trolls Giuliani with Old Clip of Trump Hitting on Him in Drag: ‘I’m Not the Only Pimp’ appeared first on Towleroad.

Michael Avenatti Trolls Giuliani with Old Clip of Trump Hitting on Him in Drag: ‘I’m Not the Only Pimp’