Daily Archives: July 27, 2018



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MISC

HRC Responds to Senate Judiciary Chairman Grassley’s Refusal to Request Kavanaugh Records

HRC Responds to Senate Judiciary Chairman Grassley’s Refusal to Request Kavanaugh Records

Today, HRC responded to the refusal of Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley to request the release of relevant records related to Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s time as White House staff secretary, which is crucial to examining his views on myriad issues, from LGBTQ equality to reproductive rights to health care and more.

“During his time in the Bush White House, Brett Kavanaugh almost certainly was involved with numerous legal and policy issues that impact the lives and rights of LGBTQ people, including hate crimes legislation, non-discrimination protections for federal workers, and a proposed Constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in every state,” said HRC Associate Legal Director Robin Maril. “Historically, the Senate has made an effort to consider every public statement or document related to a Supreme Court nominee’s career. The American people demand and deserve to have the most comprehensive and transparent view of Brett Kavanaugh’s record. There is no reason for Chairman Grassley and the Senate Republican Leadership to hide these emails — unless there’s something to hide.”

When Justice Elena Kagan was nominated for the Supreme Court, she had also served as a counsel in a presidential administration, and accordingly, the Senate Judiciary Committee paused for nearly a month to review the documents related to her service as counsel in the Clinton and Obama Administrations, releasing over 170,000 pages of information, including every e-mail Justice Kagan wrote while serving in the White House. This amounted to all but one percent of documents requested.

There are over 429,000 documents in the George W. Bush Presidential Library, alone, that could pertain to Brett Kavanaugh’s record and provide a necessary insight into his legal views, especially on LGBTQ equality.

The Human Rights Campaign joins coalition partners in calling on the Chairman Grassley and the Senate Republican Leadership to ensure Americans are getting a fair and unfettered view into Brett Kavanaugh’s record.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-responds-to-chuck-grassleys-refusal-to-request-kavanaugh-records?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

NEWS

Paul Walker, Claire McCaskill, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donny Deutsch, Luke Evans, Orca, Allen Weisselberg, Jason Mraz: HOT LINKS

Paul Walker, Claire McCaskill, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donny Deutsch, Luke Evans, Orca, Allen Weisselberg, Jason Mraz: HOT LINKS
Lu Chen

DONNY DEUTSCH. Michael Cohen “has led me to believe” he can tie Trump directly to Russia.

ALLEN WEISSELBERG. Longtime financial chief of the Trump Organization subpoenaed to testify in criminal investigation of Michael Cohen.

Mike PompeoMIKE POMPEO. Blindsided by Trump moves: ‘Secretary of State Mike Pompeo may have been surprised by threats against NATO ally Turkey made Thursday by President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, two State Department sources told NBC News. The threats concern the fate of North Carolina Pastor Andrew Brunson, who has been detained by Turkish officials based on allegations of terror and espionage. Trump tweeted Thusday that the “United States will impose large sanctions on Turkey” for keeping Brunson in custody.’

OFF THE MARKET. Nick Jonas is engaged after two months of dating.

RUDY GIULIANI. Calling Michael Cohen an “honest, honorable lawyer” just two months ago.

NATALIA VESELNITSKAYA. Russian lawyer who met with Donald Jr, others in Trump Tower meeting worked closely with Russian officials. “The new documents reviewed by AP suggest her ties to Russian authorities are close — and they pull the curtain back on her campaign to overturn the sanctions imposed by the U.S. on Russian officials.

CLAIRE MCCASKILL. Targeted by Russian hackers. ‘The Russian intelligence agency behind the 2016 election cyberattacks targeted Sen. Claire McCaskill as she began her 2018 re-election campaign in earnest, a Daily Beast forensic analysis reveals. That makes the Missouri Democrat the first identified target of the Kremlin’s 2018 election interference.

NEW YORK. Stonewall Democrats choose Andrew Cuomo over Cynthia Nixon. “On Wednesday afternoon, Cynthia Nixon’s campaign sent an email blast to supporters, mocking Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s application for the Stonewall Democratic Club’s endorsement, accusing him of lying in a desperate bid to shore up support. Hours later, the club, the city’s first lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Democratic organization, endorsed Mr. Cuomo.”

KIMBERLY GUILFOYLE. Donald Trump’s FOX News mistress forced out at network for inappropriate behavior including sexual misconduct: “Six sources said Guilfoyle’s behavior included showing personal photographs of male genitalia to colleagues (and identifying whose genitals they were), regularly discussing sexual matters at work and engaging in emotionally abusive behavior toward hair and makeup artists and support staff.”

DINING DUO. Luke Evans and Victor Turpin dine together in Italy.’

ON THE RAG. This week on the gay magazines.

SKY SPECTACLE. Mars and the Moon, tonight: ‘The longest “blood moon” eclipse in this century will coincide with Mars‘ closest approach to Earth in 15 years to offer skygazers a thrilling astronomical double bill on Friday, astronomers say. For about half the world, the moon will be partly or fully in Earth’s shadow from 1:14 p.m. to 7:28 p.m. ET — six hours and 14 minutes in all.’

LEE GARLINGTON. Rock Hudson’s ‘true love’ speaks out. “He was the biggest movie star in the world, and the rumors were that he was gay,” he says. “So I thought, ‘Let me get an eye on him.’ I stood outside his cottage on the Universal lot, pretending to read Variety, which was probably upside down at the time. He walked out and down the street. He looked back once. That was it.”

MOURNING. Heartbreaking video shows orca pushing body of dead baby for days. “It’s real and it’s raw,” Giles said. “It’s obvious what’s happening. You cannot interpret it any other way. This is an animal that is grieving for its dead baby, and she doesn’t want to let it go. She’s not ready.”

BEAUTIFUL BRIDGE OF THE DAY. The new Golden bridge on Ba Na Hills, Da Nang, Vietnam. “The structure, which opened in early June, sits among the Ba Na Hills 1,400 meters above sea level behind the city of Da Nang on the country’s east coast.”

NEW TUNE OF THE DAY. Jason Mraz featuring Meghan Trainor “More Than Friends”.

LATE NIGHT PERFORMANCE OF THE DAY. Dua Lipa “IDGAF”.

TRAILER OF THE DAY. I Am Paul Walker.

FRIDAY FLASH. Lu Chen.

Instagram Photo

The post Paul Walker, Claire McCaskill, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donny Deutsch, Luke Evans, Orca, Allen Weisselberg, Jason Mraz: HOT LINKS appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.


Paul Walker, Claire McCaskill, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donny Deutsch, Luke Evans, Orca, Allen Weisselberg, Jason Mraz: HOT LINKS

MISC

Human Rights Campaign Endorses Gretchen Driskell for U.S. House

Human Rights Campaign Endorses Gretchen Driskell for U.S. House

Today, HRC announced its endorsement of Gretchen Driskell for U.S. House in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District.

“Gretchen Driskell is a dedicated leader and proven champion for LGBTQ equality,” said HRC Michigan State Director Amritha Venkataraman. “She will fight for every Michigander’s right to live and work free from discrimination and harassment. HRC proudly endorses her candidacy to represent the people of Michigan’s 7th Congressional District. We look forward to mobilizing our thousands of members and supporters across the district to turn out for equality in November, and to working with Gretchen Driskell in the ongoing fight for full federal equality.”

“I am honored to once again earn the endorsement of the Human Rights Campaign,” said Gretchen Driskell. “All of Michigan’s hard working families deserve the same shot at a good quality of life — period. Our diversity makes us a great state, and I look forward to continuing to work with HRC to ensure our laws protect each of our neighbors equally and stop policies that move our state and country backward.” 

A former state representative and mayor, Gretchen Driskell has a long career serving the people of Michigan. While in office, she fought to prevent restrictions on same-sex adoption and remains committed to moving equality forward in Michigan and nationwide. Driskell supports marriage equality and the Equality Act, crucial federal legislation that would finally guarantee comprehensive protections for LGBTQ people under our nation’s civil rights laws.

Driskell is hoping to unseat incumbent Rep. Tim Walberg. Rep. Walberg scored a zero on HRC’s most recent Congressional Scorecard, which measures members of Congress’ support for LGBTQ equality and policies. He has consistently worked to undermine progress, co-sponsoring the so-called First Amendment Defense Act and opposing an amendment in support of a ban on employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity by federal contractors.

In Michigan, HRC has identified more than 1.1 million “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 Michigan 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/human-rights-campaign-endorses-michigans-gretchen-driskell-for-us-house?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

MISC

GLAAD, NCLR, and Born Perfect kick off 16-week conversion therapy awareness campaign

GLAAD, NCLR, and Born Perfect kick off 16-week conversion therapy awareness campaign

FilmRise

Conversion therapy – attempts to change sexual orientation or gender identity – is going to feature very prominently in the news and pop culture in the coming months. While legislation continues to work its way through state legislatures, two new films spotlighting dangerous, extreme anti-LGBTQ conversion therapy will bring this important issue to much wider audiences.

Beginning today, and continuing through the fall, GLAAD is teaming up with NCLR (National Center for Lesbian Rights) and their Born Perfect campaign, to drive awareness about conversion therapy. For the next 16 weeks, we’ll be locking arms together to share information on our websites and social media accounts about the topic. You’ll learn facts and myths about conversion therapy, as well as see content from both of these upcoming films and gain information about what you can do to educate yourself and others.

Every major medical and mental health organization – including the American Medical Association, American Psychological Association, and American Psychiatric Association – have denounced conversion therapy as both harmful and ineffective. Conversion therapy has been shown to lead to increased depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and even suicide.

Conversion therapy can take many forms. While some “counselors” still use physical treatments like aversive conditioning (electric shocks, nausea induction, or orgasmic reconditioning, amongst other methods), the techniques most commonly used include a variety of behavioral, cognitive, psychoanalytic, and other practices that try to change or reduce same-sex attraction or alter a person’s gender identity. These methods could occur during talk therapy with a therapist or in so-called “conversion therapy camps,” where LGBTQ youths are isolated from their families. Conversion therapy camps feature prominently in the plots of both The Miseducation of Cameron Post and Boy Erased.

Coming out first in early August from FilmRise (Aug. 3rd in NYC, Aug. 10th wider release) is The Miseducation of Cameron Post, which won the U.S. dramatic grand jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival this past winter. Starring Chloë Grace Moretz, John Gallagher Jr., Sasha Lane, Forrest Goodluck, and Jennifer Ehle, the adaption of Emily M. Danforth’s 2012 novel follows Moretz’s lead character as she’s sent to a conversion therapy camp after being caught by her parents with her girlfriend in the back seat of her parent’s car on prom night. Adapted and directed by Desiree Akhavan, the film infuses humor as a coping mechanism to diffuse the pain the lead characters experience.

On November 2nd, Focus Features will release Boy Erased, based on Garrard Conley’s book “Boy Erased: A Memoir of Identity, Faith, and Family.” Adapted and directed by Joel Edgerton, the film features Lucas Hedges as Conley, Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe as his parents, as well as Cherry Jones, Troye Sivan, Michael “Flea” Balzary, and Xavier Dolan in supporting roles. When the 19-year-old protagonist admits to his parents that, “I think about men. I don’t know why,” he is faced with an ultimatum that so many young LGBTQ people face: Attend a conversion-therapy program or be permanently exiled by his family and shunned by his friends and loved ones.

Both of these films are going to drive important conversations about this sometimes fatal practice, which is now banned in 14 states and the District of Columbia in order to protect LGBTQ youth. California was the first state to enact a ban on the practice (in 2012) and was followed soon thereafter by New Jersey, Washington, D.C., Oregon, Illinois, and Vermont. In New York, state regulations bar New York insurers from providing coverage for the practice of conversion therapy on minors. In recent years, New Mexico, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Nevada, Washington, Maryland, Hawaii, and New Hampshire have also banned the practice, with Delaware following suit just this past Monday.

NCLR is available to provide support and assistance to advocates who are seeking to enact such laws across the country. You can learn more facts about conversion therapy on NCLR’s website. If you would like to help to enact a similar law in your state, please contact #BornPerfect Campaign Coordinator & Youth Policy Counsel Carolyn Reyes at [email protected].

July 27, 2018

www.glaad.org/blog/glaad-nclr-and-born-perfect-kick-off-16-week-conversion-therapy-awareness-campaign

NEWS

Emmanuel Macron insists his former hunky bodyguard is not his gay lover

Emmanuel Macron insists his former hunky bodyguard is not his gay lover
French President Emmanuel Macron is once again denying reports that he engaged in a passionate gay love affair with his former head of security.

www.queerty.com/french-president-emmanuel-macron-insists-former-hunky-bodyguard-not-gay-lover-20180727?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

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