A Gay Love Letter to Barbie on Her 60th Birthday

Alexander Modiano pays tribute to the doll that sparked his queer awakening.

www.advocate.com/commentary/2019/3/12/gay-love-letter-barbie-her-60th-birthday

Lawmaker complains of “vile messages” after past comments about electrocuting gay people resurface
In one post, Lisonbee said electric shock therapy is “horrifying” but shouldn’t be considered “torture” if used to try to change someone’s sexual orientation.

www.queerty.com/lawmaker-complains-vile-messages-past-comments-electrocuting-gay-people-resurface-20190312?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Jussie Smollett Appears at Chicago Court Hearing ‘to Show Confidence in His Innocence’ — WATCH

Empire actor Jussie Smollett appeared for a court hearing on Tuesday morning in Chicago “to show confidence in his innocence,” according to a rep. who spoke with NBC News: “He will do everything he needs to do. He will go the extra mile to cooperate with the process.”

CBS Chicago reports: “Cook County Criminal Court Presiding Judge LeRoy Martin ruled he will allow cameras in the courtroom on Thursday, when a trial judge will be selected at random to hear Smollett’s case. Smollett will be arraigned later the same day, and that trial judge will have final say over whether cameras will be allowed in court for further proceedings.”

Anderson Cooper spoke with Smollett’s attorney Mark Geragos last week about the 16-count felony indictment against the Empire actor for staging a hate crime.

Said Geragos: “This is an outrage….I defy anybody to find any indictment anywhere where somebody has brought 16 counts for being a victim of a hate crime, basically.”

“They have not talked to one person at Fox who has said he was dissatisfied with his money,” Geragos continued. “They have not interviewed one person connected with the show Empirewho says he was dissatisfied with his money. They are the ones who started their internal investigation about the leaks because all of the information that was being leaked was false.”

Added Geragos: “What is happening here is frankly a media gangbang of this guy of unprecedented proportions. And that’s the reason I got into this. I’ve never seen a media pendulum swing more quickly and more viciously and rob somebody of their presumption of innocence like this case. It’s startling the way people assume that he’s guilty. He hasn’t been given one stitch of discovery. There isn’t one police report. Your package just said he paid $3,500. I’ve got the texts. Those texts––and they conceded that the check and the texts were for training. It wasn’t to pay anything! So I don’t understand where any of this comes from.”

Anderson then asked why the brothers would do such a thing: “Doesn’t it just seem weird to you that you get allegedly attacked by two people who you know and you don’t seem to recognize them, even you claimed you fought back and they ran away, and — I believe initially Mr. Smollett said one of them was white, or they were white — Isn’t it just weird that you get allegedly attacked by two people you actually know that have been on Empire that, who you have actually worked out with, and you don’t recognize them?”

“Yes,” replied Geragos. “I don’t know whether he made that statement but what I do know is that when he was told that they had evidence against these two he refused to sign the complaint because he could not believe it.”

Added Geragos: “I haven’t seen one piece of evidence and they don’t have one piece of evidence that they’ve turned over that links Jussie to this. What they do have is a great case against the two brothers….What do they have besides their word that he is in on this.”

The post Jussie Smollett Appears at Chicago Court Hearing ‘to Show Confidence in His Innocence’ — WATCH appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Jussie Smollett Appears at Chicago Court Hearing ‘to Show Confidence in His Innocence’ — WATCH

Ten Women Leaders Breaking Barriers for Bisexual Representation

Post submitted by Helen Parshall, HRC Digital Media Manager, and Rokia Hassanein, HRC Content Producer

Over the past year, we have seen more and more celebrities come out as bisexual, pansexual, queer and sexually fluid — breaking down barriers and inspiring others to live their truths.

Studies show that as many as half of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer population identify as bisexual — making the bisexual community the single largest group in the LGBTQ community.

Yet far too often, the unique needs of the bisexual community go unseen and unheard in LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ spaces alike.

In honor of Bisexual Health Awareness Month and Women’s History Month, we celebrate some of the incredible people leading at the intersection of these identities. This month is a vital opportunity to shine a light on how much work we have yet to do to achieve full equality — and better still, achieve equality that does not tie identity solely to male-female, gay-straight binaries.  

1. Robyn Ochs

Robyn Ochs remains an influential bisexual leader who is looked up to by many in the bi community.An international speaker and editor of Bi Women Quarterly and two anthologies —  “Getting Bi: Voices of Bisexuals Around the World” and “RECOGNIZE: The Voices of Bisexual Men” — Ochs shines light on existing bi stereotypes and dismantles them.

Checking into a hotel, clerk compliments me on my earrings. Feeling brave, I smile & say, “Thanks, they’re bisexual pride earrings.” They smile broadly: “I’m bi, too.” So I sign them up for a free electronic subscription to @biwomenqtly. We really ARE everywhere. #bivisibility pic.twitter.com/idC7oVYjlt

— Robyn Ochs (@robynochs) March 8, 2019

2. Raquel Willis

Queer and transgender writer Raquel Willis works to elevate the voices of marginalized individuals, particularly trans women of color. She is the newest editor of Out Magazine, where she brings an intersectional, advocacy lens to journalism.

This is FANTASTIC news! Congratulations on your role as @OutMagazine‘s new executive editor, @RaquelWillis_! t.co/W4sI8L6WYF

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) December 10, 2018

3. Rep. Katie Hill

HRC was proud to mobilize our members and supporters to help elect U.S. Rep. Katie Hill, California’s first openly bisexual representative. While campaigning, Hill talked about the importance of bringing visibility to Congress, and now she shines as the only openly bisexual person in the House.

Today is #BiVisibilityDay and I’m proud to be running for Congress as an openly bisexual woman.

— Katie Hill (@KatieHill4CA) September 23, 2018

4. Stephanie Beatriz

Stephanie Beatriz — actor on Brooklyn 99, proud Argentinian American immigrant and bisexual woman — joined HRC for an #HRCTwitterTakeover during Latinx Heritage Month to mark the 30th anniversary of National Coming Out Day. “Know that I see you. Te veo,” Beatriz said. “Whether you’re out to everyone or just starting to come out to yourself, you’re not alone.”

1/ Hey Twitter! This is Stephanie Beatriz (@iamstephbeatz). I’m here today for an #HRCTwitterTakeover to talk about my journey as a Latina, bisexual actor for the 30th anniversary of National #ComingOutDay. pic.twitter.com/dBRgbRyNtY

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) October 11, 2018

5. Lilly Singh

Last month, YouTube personality Lilly Singh came out as bisexual. “Throughout my life (my identities) have proven to be obstacles from time to time,” wrote Singh. “But now I’m fully embracing them as my superpowers.” Singh is open about her life and taking care of her  mental health needs, setting an example for other bisexual people of color.

ICYMI: YouTube personality Lilly Singh came out as #bisexual.

Thanks @IISuperwomanII for using your platform to bring more #bi visi����lity. ������ t.co/FHD1x6DjUj

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 25, 2019

6. Lauren Beach

As we mark Bisexual Health Awareness Month, experiences among bi people in health care settings remain rarely discussed. Activists including LGBTQ health researcher Lauren Beach are working to change that. As Beach told HRC, “The biggest challenge to researching bi+ health issues is simple: biphobia.”

So happy to see bi activists @robynochs and @laurenbbeach featured in this article about Bi Health Disparities. t.co/WTD5kPkRHR

— Still Bisexual (@StillBisexual) March 6, 2019

7. Evan Rachel Wood

Openly bisexual actor Evan Rachel Wood has used her platform to advocate for LGBTQ equality, shedding light on issues impacting bi, pan, queer and fluid communities — including health disparities the community experiences.

To mark #BiHealthMonth, @HRC is proud to honor @EvanRachelWood, a longtime advocate and voice for the #bisexual community. #BHAM18 ������ pic.twitter.com/3LiUFqGGxd

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) March 22, 2018

8. Sara Ramirez

During last year’s Bi Health Month, Sara Ramirez joined HRC to host a conversation about the need to address biphobia and bi-erasure. From groundbreaking roles in shows such as “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Madam Secretary” to her work with organizations including True Colors United, Ramirez works to create spaces where bisexual, pansexual, queer and sexually fluid people feel safe enough to celebrate one another openly and without fear.

It is time for us to see more bi+ people at the forefront of #LGBTQ spaces, on our televisions, in our stories. It is time to recognize the #bisexual elders that have been invisible despite driving our movement forward. —@SaraRamirez #HRCTwitterTakeover t.co/ArPwqw3EbM

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) March 26, 2018

9. Gov. Kate Brown

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown made history as the nation’s first openly bisexual person elected as governor. Under Brown’s leadership as governor, Oregon has protected LGBTQ youth from the dangerous practice of so-called “conversion therapy” and extended critical protections for transgender students in Oregon schools.

Some #WednesdayWisdom: Did you know @OregonGovBrown is the nation’s first ever openly #bisexual governor? We honor her and more trailblazers for #WomensHistoryMonth. pic.twitter.com/FxKXUSogl5

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) March 6, 2019

10. Janelle Monáe

When Janelle Monáe came out as “a queer Black woman in America,” it was a moment of visibility that resonated with many — evidenced by the number of definition searches for pan identities.

This #WomensHistoryMonth, @HRC honors award-winning singer @JanelleMonae who, in coming out as a “queer Black woman in America,” jump-started an international conversation about bisexual and pansexual identities in 2018. She continues to be a Black pan icon. pic.twitter.com/XpVq29ag0B

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) March 4, 2019

www.hrc.org/blog/ten-women-leaders-breaking-barriers-for-bisexual-representation?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed