Charles Blow, David Beckham, Katrina Pierson, Jack Phillips, Ben De La Creme, Austria, Colton Haynes

CHARLES BLOW. Trump’s N-word tape will probably excite his base. “We would be insane if we kept questioning and saying this is a matter of opinion of whether he’s a racist or not. He is. People have cooked that into the books. I think that if you found the tape of him using the N-word, it might actually increase his support. This does nothing to them, they believe wholeheartedly in this approach, and none of these insults to people who look like me hurt them because it is not them. There is not a betrayal of their belief in him, there is not a betrayal in what they want him to do, this is what they want him to do. This is what they accepted. This is what they want.”

VOGUEING. The entire Beckham family.

JOHN BOLTON. Trump national security adviser to meet with Russia next week.

Anti-gay baker Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop.

JACK PHILLIPS. Bigoted Masterpiece Cakeshop owner sues Gov. John Hickenlooper and Colorado officials: “Even though Jack serves all customers and simply declines to create custom cakes that express messages or celebrate events in violation of his deeply held beliefs, the government is intent on destroying him—something the Supreme Court has already told it not to do. Neither Jack nor any other creative professionals should be targeted by the government for living consistently with their religious beliefs.”

KATRINA PIERSON. Ed Henry gets into it with the Trump supporter who changed her story about the N-word tape. ‘Pierson dealt with the apparent inconsistencies of her story by raising a fog of multiple discussions and multiple recordings. But a remarkably nonplussed Henry was having none of it, ultimately lashing out at his guest, asking her “If that’s the truth, why didn’t you tell me, ‘Ed, you know, I don’t know all the details of this book, I haven’t seen it, but I did say, yes, he used the N-word to move the conversation along?’” before adding ” You didn’t say that last night. You changed the story today.”’

GOP MIDTERM STRATEGY. No red meat to the base: “The Senate will return to work on Wednesday to take up an array of bills with bipartisan support — such as the Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services spending bill, opioids legislation and the Water Resources Development Act. Also on the agenda is the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization and the conference report for the farm bill, as well as conference reports for the seven appropriations bills the Senate passed before taking an abbreviated August recess.

IT’S A CELEBRATION. Queer Eye celebrates their four Emmy nominations with GLSEN.

ORRIN HATCH. “Not comfortable” with Trump calling Omarosa a dog.

Orrin Hatch, an ally of Trump’s and president pro tempore, tells me this of Trump calling Omarosa a “dog:” “No, I’m not comfortable with that. I don’t think words like that should be used — especially by the president. … I think he should rise above that.” pic.twitter.com/skjAqgEfyD

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) August 15, 2018

ALEX JONES. Twitter finally suspends the InfoWars extremist.

BENDELACREME. Drag Race alum cancels Australian tour: “At this point in time, queens have no unions to protect us, and we have to stick together as advocates for each other. It is important for all performers to stand up for the fair treatment and pay of everyone working in drag, burlesque, cabaret, and all of the many designers and artists that support us.
I cannot in good faith continue to tour with a promoter who is not treating performers without my platform with the same consideration as those who have been on TV. It is my hope that this situation will be rectified very soon. ”

AUSTRIA. Afghan asylum seeker rejected for not being gay enough: ‘An Afghan teenager who said he feared being persecuted in his home country for being gay has had his asylum application rejected by Austria after an official said he did not “walk, act or dress” like a gay man, according to reports. An official in Lower Austria found no grounds for fear of persecution based on the sexual orientation of the 18-year-old, the Falter newspaper reported.’

INDIA. French tourist murdered by lover, chopped up: “The 68-year-old’s body was found packed into three sandbags in Tamil Nadu state’s Thanjavur district on Sunday. A 29-year-old student, who has been arrested, confessed to killing the Frenchman in an altercation after the pair had sex, senior police officer Senthil Kumar told AFP.”

MEAN GIRLS. Taylor Smith may face charges for pushing her friend off a bridge 60-feet above the water.

LYRIC VIDEO OF THE DAY. Matt Fishel “Bored of Straight Boys”.

HUMP DAY PHOTOSHOP. Colton Haynes channeling Kim Kardashian.

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Charles Blow, David Beckham, Katrina Pierson, Jack Phillips, Ben De La Creme, Austria, Colton Haynes

HRC Deploys Staff to #TurnOUT Equality Voters Across the Country

HRC’s first staff electoral deployment of 2018 is complete, and a second team has just finished in Milwaukee turning out Equality Voters for yesterday’s primary election in Wisconsin.

The first deployment was to Ohio’s 12th congressional district for a highly competitive special election. Four HRC staff and one HRC intern signed up to help call members and knock on doors to try and flip a congressional district that Donald Trump won by 11 points in 2016.

During our time in Ohio, HRC met and worked with incredible volunteers who have been organizing, calling and knocking doors in their communities for months. On election night, HRC-endorsed candidate Danny O’Connor even recognized the HRC team and thanked them for their work knocking doors over the weekend.

.@HRC is proud to be on the ground to support pro-equality champion @DannyOConnor1. #OH12 pic.twitter.com/GHWEiZeSPb

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) August 8, 2018

While we won’t know the official results won’t be announced until all provisional and absentee ballots are counted, the fact that O’Connor is within the margin of error is a huge victory and a wake up call to anti-equality candidates everywhere.

With just 83 days until the election, HRC has prioritized investments and organizing in six key states in the 2018 cycle, and has already put staff and resources on the ground. HRC has identified more than 52 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 and gender identity.

If you need inspiration to help turn out Equality Voters, check out what the HRC staff deployed to Ohio had to say about their experience working on the ground:

“Being in DC means that sometimes I feel one step removed from some of our efforts, but getting the chance to go interact with the people, volunteers and voters who are working alongside us to move our mission forward was a really refreshing and encouraging experience.”

“On election night, where the race was too close to call and the result showed less than a percentage point difference in votes between the two main candidates, it was clear that every door knock, phone call and conversation with voters truly mattered.”

“The best part of being deployed was getting to know people in a very real and human way — from spending time with people outside of the office, drinking lemonade made by a fellow volunteer or showing a picture of your dog to someone while canvassing (a real thing that happened). There’s nothing that brings out the importance of connecting with others more than working on a campaign.”

“Working and living in Washington, D.C., I’ve recently found myself feeling disheartened or pessimistic about our political system. I’m so glad that mentors within HRC encouraged me to sign up and even more grateful that I had the opportunity to go out to Ohio and work on a campaign with a great HRC team. I knew that it would be hard work, but I had no idea just how rewarding it would be to knock on doors and meet parents, senior citizens, young people and energetic local organizers who all realize just how important this moment is in our democracy.”

Supporters in any state can text “VOTER” to 30644 to verify their voter registration, find their polling place and receive election reminders. For more information on how to get involved, sign up to volunteer or join an advocacy training, visit HRC’s Equality Voter Action Center.

#TurnOUT 2018, Danny O’Connor, midterms, canvas, HRC Rising” src=”https://assets2.hrc.org/files/images/blog/OhioCanvas1-500×281.jpg”>

#TurnOUT 2018, Danny O’Connor, midterms, canvas, HRC Rising” src=”https://assets2.hrc.org/files/images/blog/OhioSpecialElection2018-500×281.jpg”>

#TurnOUT 2018, Danny O’Connor, midterms, canvas, HRC Rising” src=”https://assets2.hrc.org/files/images/blog/OhioCanvas2-500×281.jpg”>

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Is There Anything Worse Than Bad Sex? Research Says There Is!

YES, there is, and we have the answer!  Evidently the wrong use of “there, their and they’re” really grinds the gears of singles across America. I don’t know about you, but some of the least attractive messages I’ve ever received on a dating app, include poor grammar and incorrect spelling. It doesn’t take a whole […]

The post Is There Anything Worse Than Bad Sex? Research Says There Is! appeared first on PlentyOfFish Blog.

Is There Anything Worse Than Bad Sex? Research Says There Is!

300 Catholic Priests Accused of Monstrous Sex Abuse of More Than 1,000 Children in Pennsylvania Grand Jury Probe: VIDEO



The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has revealed the results of a grand jury probe into sexual abuse by the Catholic Church in Pennsylvania and the results are staggeringly sickening.

Vox reports: ‘Some of the priests’ names in the report have been redacted. The report’s release was delayed after several clergy members named in the report filed legal challenges against its publication. Shapiro told reporters at a news conference that the report details “systematic coverup by senior church officials in Pennsylvania and at the Vatican.”…The report, which is often graphic and disturbing, details widespread sexual abuse and rape by priests of both female and male minors, many of whom used the language and rhetoric of their office to convince their victims that their sexual abuse was “holy” or desired by God. The breadth of the accusations and the graphic specificity of the charges make the report a watershed moment in the history of abuse in the Catholic Church: one that will take the church decades to recover from.

The Washington Post reports: ‘The report is an index of frightful physical and psychological violence. It recounts how one priest allegedly abused five sisters in a single family; how another confessed to raping 15 boys as young as 7; how a victim was bound and whipped with leather straps; and how a victim died from an overdose of painkillers taken for a back injury suffered during a particularly violent attack. Most of the victims, the court said, will never be able to pursue cases against their alleged attackers, as state law gives victims of child sex abuse until they are 30 to undertake civil suits, 50 to file criminal charges.’

More from The Morning Call:

“This group of priests used whips, violence, and sadism in raping their victims,” reads one line of the nearly 900-page document, which outlines horrific abuse that occurred in Pittsburgh and five other Catholic dioceses, including Allentown, across the state.

The report said the men gave a specific gift to children they favored, something they could wear that would mark them as prime targets for abuse. Zirwas “had told me that they, the priests, would give their boys, their altar boys, or their favorite boys these crosses,” George told the grand jury. “So he gave me a big gold cross to wear.”

He remembered the rectory photo session as a degrading experience. “It is still really hard to get it out there that you were in a room when you were 14 or 15 and getting naked pictures taken from priests,” he said.

However bad you thought the corruption among Catholic clergy and bishops was, the reality is much worse. pic.twitter.com/AN8gPLwAwo

— Michael Brendan Dougherty (@michaelbd) August 14, 2018

The post 300 Catholic Priests Accused of Monstrous Sex Abuse of More Than 1,000 Children in Pennsylvania Grand Jury Probe: VIDEO appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

300 Catholic Priests Accused of Monstrous Sex Abuse of More Than 1,000 Children in Pennsylvania Grand Jury Probe: VIDEO

Is There Anything Worse Than Bad Sex?

YES, there is in fact, and we have the answer!  Evidently the wrong use of “there, their and they’re” really grinds the gears of singles across America. I don’t know about you, but some of the least attractive messages I’ve ever received on a dating app, include poor grammar and incorrect spelling. It doesn’t take […]

The post Is There Anything Worse Than Bad Sex? appeared first on PlentyOfFish Blog.

Is There Anything Worse Than Bad Sex? Research Says There Is!

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: August 15, 2018

HRC CELEBRATES VICTORIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY: “HRC is proud to work on behalf of pro-equality candidates in these crucial races up and down the ballot, and will continue to mobilize our hundreds of thousands of members and supporters in Wisconsin to turn out for equality in the general election,” said HRC Wisconsin State Director Wendy Strout. “The choice for fair-minded Wisconsinites couldn’t be clearer this November. We can either support pro-equality champions like Senator Tammy Baldwin, who have spent their careers fighting to ensure that every Wisconsinite can live a life free from discrimination and harassment, or side with anti-equality candidates like Leah Vukmir who, time and time again, has worked to undermine equality for the LGBTQ community.” More from HRC.

• Anti-LGBTQ Acting Milwaukee County Sheriff Richard Schmidt was ousted last night, again proving that using LGBTQ for cheap political gain costs at the ballot box.
• And in Vermont, Christine Hallquist made history as the first transgender person to win a major party primary for governor. More from The New York Times and NPR.

CONGRATS to these pro-#LGBTQ candidates in WI on officially clinching their nominations!
��️‍�� Sen. @TammyBaldwin
��️‍�� Rep. @MarkPocan
��️‍�� Rep. Ron Kind (@KindForCongress)
��️‍�� Rep. Gwen Moore (@Gwen4Congress)
��️‍�� @JoshKaulWI for AG t.co/ZEEBfdAnPm

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) August 15, 2018

DEPT OF LABOR ISSUES DIRECTIVE ENCOURAGING DISCRIMINATION AGAINST LGBTQ PEOPLE: Said David Stacy (@david_stacy), HRC Government Affairs Director: “This is another attempt by the Trump-Pence Administration to implement a license to discriminate against LGBTQ people by providing unsound guidance in implementing Obama-era regulations. The erroneous application of the Supreme Court’s narrow ruling in Masterpiece and recent Trump executive orders is meant to aggressively marginalize hardworking Americans because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. The American people will not tolerate discrimination, and LGBTQ people will not be erased.” Read more from the New Civil Rights Movement and Pink News.

WHAT WE’RE READING WEDNESDAY: Beck Bailey, HRC deputy director of workplace equality, tells CNN’s Julia Carpenter (@juliaccarpenter): “Non-binary people have always existed, but the idea of openly discussing and making space for welcoming non-binary people is something that’s really happening only the last couple of years.” Check out HRC’s employer toolkit on trans and non-binary inclusion in the workplace here. More from CNN.

I talked to non-binary, genderqueer and gender non-conforming workers about the changes they’d like to see in the workplace: t.co/i7Df0eJuDZ

— Julia Carpenter (@juliaccarpenter) August 13, 2018

ACCURATE REPORTING OF TRANS VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE IS CRUCIAL: NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly (@NPRKelly) speaks with ProPublica reporter Lucas Waldron (@lhwaldron) about his report on the epidemic of violence against transgender women in Jacksonville, Florida, and the failure of police to properly investigate the crimes. Three transgender women of color — Cathalina Christina James, Antash’a English and Celine Walker — have been shot dead in the city, and a fourth injured, in the first six months of 2018. They have been routinely misgendered and misnamed by local law enforcement. Jacksonville officials must do more to address this deadly violence, find justice for the murdered women and strengthen local law enforcement’s relationship with the LGBTQ community. More from NPR.

REP. JIM RENACCI (R-OH) SPEAKS TO ANTI-LGBTQ HATE GROUP, THE FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL: Yesterday, the anti-LGBTQ Senate-hopeful spoke to the hate group run by Tony Perkins. Renacci opposes marriage equality, supports a license to discriminate against LGBTQ people, and doesn’t support the Equality Act.

HORRIFYING — OKLAHOMA SCHOOL DISTRICT CANCELS CLASSES AFTER EXTREMISTS THREATEN TRANS STUDENT WITH VIOLENCE: Screenshots from a parent Facebook group for the Achille school district revealed gruesome, violent and disgusting threats against a trans student. The child’s parents have filed a restraining order. More from The Washington Post.

 GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

MICHELLE BACHELET (@mbachelet) NAMED NEXT U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF: Bachelet was the first woman president of Chile, a strong supporter of marriage equality and, during her presidency, signed a bill to allow LGBTQ couples to adopt. More from The New York Times.

ITALIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER GOES ON ANTI-LGBTQ RANT AGAINST SAME-SEX PARENTS: More from Pink News.

POLISH DEFENSE MINISTER CALLS LGBTQ PRIDE EVENT “PARADE OF SODOMITES”: More from The Washington Post.

RUSSIAN TEEN CHARGED UNDER ANTI-LGBTQ SO-CALLED “PROPAGANDA” LAW VOWS TO CONTINUE PROTESTING: More from NBC.

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

FleetOwner interviews LGBTQ truckers about their work experiences; KQED sits down with HRC’s Sarah McBride (@SarahEMcBride) to talk about her memoir and the state of LGBTQ equality; HuffPost interviews Justin Hiltner (@hiltnerj) about LGBTQ bluegrass music

Paid for by Human Rights Campaign PAC (www.hrc.org) and not authorized by any candidate or committee.

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!

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