Grindr Is Going Public

The gay dating app is preparing to make a big move.

www.advocate.com/business/2018/8/30/grindr-going-public

Read this cold blooded killer’s note to the judge after being sentenced to death

www.queerty.com/read-cold-blooded-killers-note-judge-sentenced-death-20180830?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Following Jamel Myles’ Death, We Must Address the Critical Need to Support LGBTQ Youth

Trigger Warning: This post contains mentions of suicide.

The tragic death of Denver nine-year-old Jamel Myles by suicide following extreme anti-gay bullying at school has shaken LGBTQ and allied communities around the country, and comes as students are heading back to their classrooms.

Myles had come out to his family over the summer and was excited to start the school year and tell his classmates  because he was “proud of himself,” said his mother Leia Pierce, reported by KDTV. But just four days into the his new school year, all of that had changed.  According to family members, classmates told Jamel that “he should kill himself.”

“Will you do my son and I a favor?” asked Pierce in an interview with The Daily Beast. “Stand together as equals and show love to everyone, with acceptance of everyone.”

HRC and the University of Connecticut’s 2018 LGBTQ Youth Report found alarming trends among more than 12,000 respondents, ranging in age from 13 to 17:

• More than 70 percent reported feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness in the past week;
• Only 26 percent of youth said they always feel safe in their school classrooms — and just five percent said that all of their teachers and school staff are supportive of LGBTQ people;
• Only 25 percent of LGBTQ youth have families who show support for them by getting involved in the larger LGBTQ and ally community.

And, heartbreakingly, the Centers for Disease Control’s most recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that LGB youth were four times more likely than non-LGB youth to attempt suicide in the previous year. The reporting on transgender students is expected to be published later this year.

Myles’ story reinforces that children even younger than this age range are hearing the same dangerous messages, and are too often made to feel hopeless and alone simply for being who they are.

Addressing these startling statistics starts with schools and communities alike working to foster safe and inclusive spaces for LGBTQ young people.

HRC’s Welcoming Schools program provides specific guidance to parents, teachers and the wider community for preventing anti-LGBTQ bullying and aggression in schools. This can be as simple as responding appropriately to anti-LGBTQ comments in the classroom, or encouraging educators to promote inclusivity and diversity in their lesson plans.

Parents and families can start by learning the facts and educating themselves about issues that impact LGBTQ youth. Whether or not families have openly LGBTQ children, it is vital to make home a safe and affirming space for all identities. We all can play a role in our communities to ensure that LGBTQ youth feel safe and supported.

If you or someone you know may be at risk of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. If you’re a young LGBTQ person and need to talk to someone, call The Trevor Project’s 24-hour crisis hotline for youth at 1-866-488-7386. If you are a transgender person of any age, call the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860.

To learn more about supporting LGBTQ youth in their homes, schools and communities, visit www.hrc.org/youth. For more information about how HRC Foundation’s Welcoming Schools Program can help schools work to become more inclusive and welcoming of LGBTQ young people, check out welcomingschools.org.

www.hrc.org/blog/following-jamel-myles-death-we-must-address-the-critical-need-to-support-lg?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

David Hogg, Prince Harry, MAGA Hat, Alex Jones, Ron DeSantis, Lady Gaga, Eric McCormack, Damien Chazelle, Kesha: HOT LINKS

MAYORS FOR OUR LIVES. NYC mayor Bill De Blasio and David Hogg team up for young voter registration campaign. ‘The student-founded organization March For Our Lives is teaming up with mayors from both parties for the new initiative, Mayors For Our Lives. Hogg said the initiative is crucial to advancing the cause of gun safety, the issue that originally sparked the creation of March For Our Lives.

JIMMY KIMMEL’S QUESTION. Kanye West finally answers the question Jimmy Kimmel posed to him, “I mean, you’ve so famously and so powerfully said George (W.) Bush doesn’t care about black people. It makes me wonder, what makes you think that Donald Trump does, or any people at all?”

HAMILTON EXTRA. Prince Harry sings!

ALEX JONES. Transphobic extremist conspiracy theorist denies watching trans porn. “I saw a couple of news articles about that, it’s ridiculous. I was like looking up some reporter we’re trying to hire today and punched in some number and porn popped up on my phone. Everybody has had porn pop-up on their phone hundreds of times.”

CALIFORNIA. High school senior faces possibly battery charge over classmate’s MAGA hat. ‘In cellphone video, a teacher is seen trying to subdue fired-up 17-year-old senior Jo-Ann Butler after she became enraged at a classmate for wearing the MAGA hat. She grabbed the hat off his head. “That’s a racist and hateful symbol,” Butler said.’

RON DESANTIS. Florida GOP gubernatorial nominee moderated racist, conspiracy-obsessed Facebook group: “DeSantis, who was under fire yesterday for making what many deemed a racist remark toward his black opponent Andrew Gillum, helped manage the 95,000 members strong group as one of its 52 administrators.

Another admin/moderator for the racist, conspiracy Facebook group has also been promoting Ron DeSantis’ campaign, and specifically named DeSantis as an admin, and said the Central Florida Post writer Taylor Foland was specifically brought on to promote DeSantis. pic.twitter.com/tXcqDmDrAX

— Natalie Martinez (@natijomartinez) August 28, 2018

A STAR IS BORN. Soundtrack to forthcoming film reveals 14 new songs from Lady Gaga. ‘The songwriting credits also reveal Mother Monster’s collaborators are they are mouthwateringly eclectic. Mark Ronson had a hand in creating “Shallow,” for example, while legendary country songsmith Lori McKenna co-wrote “Always Remember Us This Way.” They are not the only familiar names. DJ White Shadow co-produced five tracks, Julia Michaels and Justin Tranter co-wrote “Heal Me” and Diane Warren returns for “Why Did You Do That?”

ITALY. Two gay teens beaten in Palermo. “Two boys aged 15 and 16 were beaten up in Palermo because they are gay, the Gironale of Sicily said Thursday. The pair were chatting in the city’s park when they were attacked…”

STAR BOY. Eric McCormack.

Where there’s a WILL there’s a way! Actor @EricMcCormack will be honored with his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on September 13th! His star will be next to his acting partner in crime Debra Messing! pic.twitter.com/2eZZjLOeda

— Ana Martinez (@wofstargirl) August 29, 2018

TRAILER OF THE DAY. First Man directed by Damien Chazelle.

SERIES PROMO OF THE DAY. Riverdale.

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE DAY. Thunderclouds ft. Sia, Diplo, Labrinth.

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE DAY II. Kiddy Smile “Be Honest”.

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE DAY III. The Struts featuring Kesha. “Body Talks”.

THIRSTY THURSDAY. Immense Ray.

The post David Hogg, Prince Harry, MAGA Hat, Alex Jones, Ron DeSantis, Lady Gaga, Eric McCormack, Damien Chazelle, Kesha: HOT LINKS appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

David Hogg, Prince Harry, MAGA Hat, Alex Jones, Ron DeSantis, Lady Gaga, Eric McCormack, Damien Chazelle, Kesha: HOT LINKS

The Type A To My Type B: 5 Reasons Why You Should Try Dating Your Opposite

We’ve seen the trope a million times. Danny and Sandy from Grease, Noah and Allie from The Notebook, and more recently, Jake and Amy from Brooklyn Nine-Nine show us the classic story of two people who are incredibly different but end up falling madly in love. So what’s the deal? Do opposites really attract, or […]

The post The Type A To My Type B: 5 Reasons Why You Should Try Dating Your Opposite appeared first on PlentyOfFish Blog.

The Type A To My Type B: 5 Reasons Why You Should Try Dating Your Opposite

Advice for Transgender and Non-Binary Students Heading Back to School

For many children, the first few days back to school can make or break their year — and for trans and non-binary students, it can be doubly difficult to know where to turn to seek support for their unique needs.

HRC and the University of Connecticut’s recent 2018 LGBTQ Youth Report revealed that a majority of transgender youth don’t feel safe using the bathroom at school and are often not called by their chosen names or correct pronouns.

That’s why it’s not only critical that educators continue working to create safe and supportive schools for transgender and non-binary students, but that these young people — who might not feel safe speaking up — have their own strategies as well as they return to school.  

We asked our colleagues here at HRC to help out and provide some advice to trans and non-binary students as they get ready to head back to their classrooms:

“When you look around at the other students on your first day back, remember you’re never alone. At least one person gets you — and needs you to get them. Go find them.”
— Jay Brown
Pronouns: He, Him, His

“Not everyone is always going to understand you and some might even be mean, but there are always people who adore you and will happily run to help. If you are an open trans kid (or even if you’re not), understand you don’t have to pretend to be something else just to fit in. Be brave and always be yourself!”
— Laya Monarez
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers

“There’s no such thing as being feminine or masculine ‘enough.’ You’re enough right now, exactly as you are, and you’re amazing. No class can teach us how to be ourselves. It’s on us to do the homework and ask the tough questions. Understanding and accepting your identity isn’t easy, but I promise it’ll be worth it.”
— Collen Kutney
Pronouns: They, Them, Theirs

“Be proud, be visible, be strong and surround yourself with those like you. Be the beacon they seek and together you will shine as bright as diamonds. Muestra tu orgullo, se visible, se firme y rodéate de aquellxs como tu. Se el farol que ellxs buscan y juntxs brillaran tales como los diamantes que son.”
— Lisbeth Meléndez Rivera
Pronouns: Ella, She, Her, Hers

“Sometimes going back to school can be scary, particularly if you are worried about bullies. One thing I always try to remember when I face bullies is that as LGBTQ people we show so much power in just being ourselves, and the bullies see that power and are jealous of it. You are powerful just by being, and never forget that.”
— Sarah McBride
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers

“There are so many ways to be trans or non-binary, and don’t worry if you feel different. Keep being yourself and try to find others who love you for who you are.”
— Charles Girard
Pronouns: He, Him, His

“It can be hard to get people at school to understand how important it is to use your pronouns, especially if you use neutral ones like they/them/theirs. Find one friend who is willing to be your advocate. They can go with you to the bathroom, use your correct pronouns in front of other people, or just give your hand a squeeze if you’re not okay. Sometimes it’s just nice to know that one person has your back!”
— Sula Malina
Pronouns: They, Them, Theirs

“There is no such thing as ‘not queer enough.’ If you’re queer, you make what it means to you, and that should be good enough for everyone else. You’re part of the family.”
— Charlotte Clymer
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers

Housed by the HRC Foundation, Welcoming Schools and Time to THRIVE are national programs designed to help LGBTQ youth succeed. Welcoming Schools is the nation’s premier professional development program providing LGBTQ and gender inclusive resources to schools to reduce bullying behavior and establish a positive school climate. Time to THRIVE is an annual national conference that brings together K-12 educators, counselors and other youth-serving professionals to build awareness and cultural competency to better support LGBTQ youth.

www.hrc.org/blog/advice-for-transgender-and-non-binary-students-heading-back-to-school?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed