Marvel trumpets the first LGBTQ character in their movies: a walk-on bit part
This is supposed to be progress?

www.queerty.com/marvel-trumpets-first-lgbtq-character-movies-walk-bit-part-20190425?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Joe Biden on LGBTQ Rights: From Questionable Ally to Reliable One

We examine Biden’s complicated history on this and other issues as he announces his presidential run.

www.advocate.com/politics/2019/4/24/joe-biden-lgbtq-rights-questionable-ally-reliable-one

The cast and director of ‘Empire’ are fighting over whether to keep Jussie Smollett
The cast recently wrote a letter explaining why they think Smollett should be allowed to stay.

www.queerty.com/cast-director-empire-fighting-whether-keep-jussie-smollett-20190425?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

This Rising Pop Star Got Dropped by His Label Because He’s Gay, So He Responded by Coming Out in This Music Video: WATCH

Willie Tay, a rising star in Singapore’s pop scene, got dropped by his label after he came out to them. So he did what a self-respecting artist would do: he went independent with a new stage name Wils, and released a music video that serves as his official coming out.

Wils’ co-star in the video is Rob Pexton. Wils notes, “it’s his first music video ever, such a natural!” We sense some chemistry.

Wrote Wils on YouTube: “This is my first music video since I came out as gay. Sadly.. I got dropped from my label in Asia after I came out of the closet.. But I’m okay! I’m really grateful for the support from my loved ones. I wouldn’t have made it this far without you guys. If this song meant something to you, I’ll be forever grateful if you could share it to your friends. I really hope this reaches the eyes of underrepresented LGBT kids in the world and I can only do that with your sharing. Life’s so much more fun when you’re being you. I promise!”

Wils added: “I’m really glad that I can finally share this new single ‘Open Up Babe’ with you.. This song got me so emotional. I remember being in this dark moment where I just couldn’t write anything because I felt like I was living a lie being in the closet. To those who ever held back because of who you are, this song is about letting that go and opening up to the beautiful things in life. Sometimes we have to face the things we’re afraid of (the deeper you dive, the freer you get) and really look at it with courage and love. This song represents the depth of your emotions where you allow yourself to let go. A space within yourself that you explore and allow yourself to express freely. A depth of self acceptance and love. … Sometimes when you free yourself of the fears you have within, you’re allowing space for others to get in. The things we go through in life creates layers of walls. We must learn to unlearn the things that keep us from being truthful to ourselves.”

Billboard spoke to Wils about coming out and the situation in his homeland of Singapore: ‘There’s a law in Singapore called Section 377a of the Penal Code, which says any consensual sexual acts between two men can be criminalized. There are a lot of gays in Singapore, and it’s OK to live as a gay man, but it’s just not really spoken about. That has led to a lot of bullying in the society. Like lesbians are being raped by men, and the men would say, “Oh, what can you do about it? Shame on you.” That led me to feel that … it’s upsetting to see that people have to live through being bullied just because they are themselves. I didn’t want that for anyone, and I didn’t want that for myself.’

The post This Rising Pop Star Got Dropped by His Label Because He’s Gay, So He Responded by Coming Out in This Music Video: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

This Rising Pop Star Got Dropped by His Label Because He’s Gay, So He Responded by Coming Out in This Music Video: WATCH

Mobilizing on the Ground for the Equality Act

HRC staff and volunteers are mobilizing in key congressional districts to build support for the Equality Act — vital legislation that would finally add explicit federal LGBTQ non-discrimination protections to our nation’s civil rights laws.

Following the first ever Congressional hearings on the Equality Act earlier this month, HRC and our partners are building momentum on the ground through training workshops, phone banking and door-to-door canvassing in swing districts nationwide that could prove pivotal to the bill’s passage in the U.S. House of Representatives.   

With a House vote on the Equality Act likely coming soon, the groundswell of support continues to grow for this historic piece of legislation. The bill has unprecedented support and is backed by nearly 70% of Americans, more than 280 members of Congress, 190 major businesses and 330 statewide and national organizations.

Recent polling found that a growing majority of Americans — including  Republicans, Democrats and Independents — support LGBTQ non-discrimination protections and LGBTQ equality.

The #EqualityAct is backed by…

����70% of Americans
��350+ national & statewide orgs
��280+ bipartisan co-sponsors
��our nation’s leading companies

Let’s end this patchwork of protections that leave millions of people at risk of discrimination. t.co/BKZf2IdGfV

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 21, 2019

With an Equality Act vote potentially weeks away, now is the time to make sure Members of Congress hear from you. Join more than 90,000 HRC Members as a Community Co-Sponsor, text EQUALITY ACT to 472472 to urge Congress to pass the Equality Act, and find events near you at hrc.org/EqualityAct.

www.hrc.org/blog/mobilizing-on-the-ground-for-the-equality-act?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed