Lori Lightfoot Has Become Chicago’s First Lesbian Mayor
The Chicago lawyer has won the vote and will be the city’s first queer leader and the first black female one.
www.advocate.com/politics/2019/4/02/lori-lightfoot-has-become-chicagos-first-lesbian-mayor
Now’s the time to plan the perfect sexy SoCal road trip
After an unusually cold, wet winter, spring seems to have finally sprung in Southern California. Warm weather, sunny skies, and lots of social opportunities mean this is a great time to get behind the wheel and spend 24 hours in each of four Golden State cities that welcome gay travelers with open arms.
Lori Lightfoot Makes History as Chicago’s First Black Female and Openly Gay Mayor
Chicago has elected Lori Lightfoot as its next mayor, defeating Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle in an historic race. Lightfoot is Chicago’s first black female mayor, and its first openly gay mayor. Chicago is now the largest city to have elected an openly gay mayor.
The Chicago Tribune reports: “Lightfoot, a former federal prosecutor making her first run for elected office, had 74 percent to Preckwinkle’s 25 percent, with 1,464 of 2,069 precincts reporting, according to unofficial vote totals. The two candidates emerged from a record field of 14 candidates in the Feb. 26 first-round election for the chance to become Chicago’s 56th mayor.”
The post Lori Lightfoot Makes History as Chicago’s First Black Female and Openly Gay Mayor appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.
Lori Lightfoot Makes History as Chicago’s First Black Female and Openly Gay Mayor
VICTORY! HRC-Backed Lori Lightfoot Elected Chicago’s First Openly LGBTQ and Black Female Mayor
Today, HRC released the following statement celebrating Lori Lightfoot’s election victory in the race for mayor of Chicago. Lightfoot will now make history as the city’s first openly LGBTQ and Black female mayor.
“Tonight, Lori Lightfoot made history as Chicago’s first openly LGBTQ and Black female mayor,” said HRC Senior Vice President for Policy and Political Affairs JoDee Winterhof. “HRC was proud to endorse Lightfoot and help turn out the vote for her historic candidacy. We congratulate Lori Lightfoot on her victory and look forward to working closely with her as the first openly LGBTQ and Black female mayor of Chicago to ensure the city moves forward to be an inclusive and welcoming place for everyone.”
As mayor, Lori Lightfoot has pledged to safeguard the civil rights of the LGBTQ community. In Lori’s LGBTQ policy framework, she outlines increasing LGBTQ representation in government by appointing mayoral LGBTQ liaisons, bolstering safety and justice for the trans community by improving police training and thoroughly investigating hate crimes, and addressing the needs of Chicago’s LGBTQ community by creating youth drop-in centers and expanding housing options for seniors and veterans.
Lori Lightfoot most recently served as a senior equity partner in the Litigation and Conflict Resolution Group at Mayer Brown LLP. She also served as President of the Chicago Police Board from 2015 to 2018, where she worked to decide disciplinary matters involving all allegations of police misconduct. Lightfoot also held roles as interim first deputy of the Chicago Department of Procurement Services, chief of staff and general counsel of the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications. She also was also an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, managing large-scale investigations involving political corruption and criminal drug conspiracies. Lightfoot has served on the board of numerous organizations, including NARAL Illinois, ACLU Illinois, Better Government Association and the Center for Conflict Resolution.
Geri Halliwell Calls Spice Girl Mel B’s Claim They Had Sex ‘Hurtful’
Halliwell claims Mel B lied about a hookup they allegedly had at the height of Spice Girls’ fame in the ’90s.
www.advocate.com/people/2019/4/02/geri-halliwell-calls-spice-girl-mel-bs-claim-they-had-sex-hurtful
HRC Calls on Gov. Holcomb to Reject Non-Inclusive Bill Excluding Transgender Hoosiers
Today, HRC reacted to the news that SB 198 has been passed through both legislative chambers in Indiana and is now headed to Gov. Eric Holcomb’s desk. The initially unrelated bill was amended late last week to include deeply flawed hate crimes language that excludes sex and gender identity, includes unconstitutionally vague language, and is non-mandatory in nature. This is not the fully-inclusive hate crimes bill the Governor initially called for, and HRC now calls on the governor to reject the bill in its current form.
“HRC will not support any proposal that is not fully-inclusive of the LGBTQ community and our allies, full stop,” said JoDee Winterhof, senior vice president for policy and political affairs at the Human Rights Campaign. “Unfortunately, SB 198 does not meet this criteria. Hate crimes laws must include both sexual orientation and gender identity alongside other protected characteristics in order to truly protect LGBTQ Hoosiers. All LGBTQ Hoosiers are deserving of protection, and leaders in Indiana must act to protect all of us from bias-based crimes. For that reason, we ask Gov. Eric Holcomb to reject this bill.”
In 2015, Indiana legislators passed a disastrous anti-LGBTQ law that caused massive economic and reputational fallout in the state. During that fight, large corporations and small business owners alike spoke up against the legislation, causing the legislature and former Gov. Mike Pence to attempt to stem the tide of opposition and financial loss. Major businesses – including Salesforce, Eli Lilly and Company, Alcoa, Cummins, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, the NCAA, and more – played a lead role in negotiating the measure that limited the damage of the law.
This session, HRC has been working closely with our partners in the Indiana Forward coalition. Indiana Forward is made up by a number of allied member organizations, higher education professionals, and corporate partners like Anthem Inc, Cummins, and Eli Lilly and Company.
MUST WATCH: Jamie Lee Curtis & Sara Cunningham of ‘Free Mom Hugs’ Show Love for LGBTQ Youth and Thank GLAAD Supporter Ariadne Getty at 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards
At the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles, actress Jamie Lee Curtis surprised the crowd when she came onstage to introduce Sara Cunningham, founder of Free Hug Moms.
Free Mom Hugs was launched after Sara Cunningham posted an offer on Facebook that she would stand-in for moms who are not accepting during same-sex weddings. Her post went viral, ultimately launching a movement of love and affirmation that Cunningham is leading. Free Hug Moms now has chapters across the U.S. and provides assistance to LGBTQ people in need – from helping trans youth with legal name changes to support at same-sex weddings. The organizations spreads “love for the LGBTQ community through hugs and grass-roots action.”
Cunningham’s story eventually caught the attention of Hollywood icon Jamie Lee Curtis. Inspired by her powerful story, Curtis purchased the rights to Cunningham’s memoir and plans to bring it to movie screens in an upcoming film entitled ‘How We Sleep At Night.’
Cunningham, who attended the event with her gay son Parker, gave one of the most impassioned speeches during the GLAAD Media Awards as she spoke to all moms: “I want this message to come through loud and clear: first and foremost: Parker, my son, I love you so much. And I want everyone to hear this, from a mother, a woman of faith, an American: we must love all our children equally, and we must all do our part to make sure that every one of them is accepted for who they are, protected by the law, and able to live the lives they love.”
During her presentation at the GLAAD Media Awards, Cunningham also spoke about working with the GLAAD Media Institute, a training program GLAAD hosts around the world to educate LGBTQ advocates and allies about best practices for sharing their stories. Additionally, Cunningham worked with GLAAD to recognize one of the LGBTQ community’s biggest allies – Ariadne Getty, President and Executive Director of the Ariadne Getty Foundation.
Ariadne Getty, President and Executive Director of the Ariadne Getty Foundation, announced a $15 million grant to launch the GLAAD Media Institute last year. AGF, which you can follow on Instagram, works with partners worldwide to improve the lives of individuals and communities through large-scale investments and hands-on advocacy. Getty, whose daughter Nats is an out artist and whose son August is an out fashion designer, is the namesake of GLAAD’s Ariadne Getty Ally Award, which was presented to Alyssa Milano in San Francisco last fall. Getty, a GLAAD Board Member, most recently spoke about LGBTQ issues during the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year.
Cunningham has brought her message of unconditional love around the country and has appeared on media outlets including the TODAY Show. Right after the GLAAD Media Awards, she flew to Tennessee for a Free Hug Moms event there.
You can keep up with the latest news about Free Hug Moms on Facebook and with the Ariadne Getty Foundaton on Instagram.
WATCH: Sean Hayes and Brian Jordan Alvarez play “tops & bottoms” backstage at ‘Will & Grace’
Jack and Estefan are getting married! Before they walk down the aisle on the on the Season Finale of Will & Grace this week, play a game of Tops & Bottoms with Sean Hayes, Brian Jordan Alvarez, Pandora Boxx, and Morgan McMichaels in the Queerty Social Lounge.
Lesbian Chef Teresa Montaño: From Soccer to Starbucks to Spain
Led by an innovative tastemaker, Los Angeles’s hottest Spanish restaurant explores the city’s cultural heritage.
www.advocate.com/exclusives/2019/4/02/lesbian-chef-teresa-montano-soccer-starbucks-spain
Guy in ‘MAGA’ hat slices open man’s hand with sword, screams homophobic slurs in public attack
“We know the suspect was wearing the hat,” SFPD spokesperson Officer Robert Rueca said.
You must be 18 years old or older to chat
