Why Illinois’s LGBTQ Organization Is Fighting to Decriminalize Pot

It’s a civil rights issue, writes Brian C. Johnson.

www.advocate.com/commentary/2019/5/30/why-illinoiss-lgbtq-organization-fighting-decriminalize-pot

WATCH: Hulu unveils new children’s series about a medieval girl with two dads

Hulu has just dropped the trailer for Bravest Knight, a new animated series about a girl with two dads.

Bravest Knight is an adaptation of Daniel Errico’s 2014 book The Bravest Knight Who Ever Lived.  The series follows Nia, a young girl training to be a knight in a medieval fantasy world. Her two dads, Sir Cedric and Prince Andrew (voiced by out-gay actors TR Knight and Wilson Cruz, respectively) regale her with tales of Cedric’s youth about his own knightly training. Each episode, Nia learns a new lesson about the duties and character of a proper knight. Donna Murphy, Christine Branski, RuPaul and Wanda Sykes also star.

Related: ‘Arthur’ creator issues fiery response to critics of the gay wedding episode

Bravest Knight joins an expanding roster of children’s and family shows that include LGBTQ characters. Last year, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power debuted to rave reviews and featured several out-queer characters, several in long-term relationships. Earlier this month, the popular PBS series Arthur featured the long-running character Mr. Ratburn marrying his boyfriend.

Bravest Knight hits Hulu June 21.

www.queerty.com/watch-hulu-unveils-new-childrens-series-medieval-girl-two-dads-20190530?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Feds Investigate Spa Owner’s Trump Campaign Connections

Cindy Yang founded a Florida spa where Patriots owner Robert Kraft was arrested for allegedly soliciting sex acts.

www.advocate.com/politics/2019/5/30/feds-investigate-spa-owners-trump-campaign-connections

“Should I tell my co-worker that her teen son is in a gay adult video?”

A 38-year-old gay man recently wrote Slate’s “Dear Prudence” advice column asking whether he’s morally obliged to tell a female co-worker that her barely legal 18-year-old son is appearing on an adult cam site.

In his letter, he writes:

“A few months ago, I found the stream of an 18-year-old guy whose routine I liked a lot. “Cam” quickly became one of my favorites, and I always tipped generously whenever I saw his show. He didn’t show his face, but his bio mentioned that he’s a high school senior who lives in the same metropolitan area as me and likes daddies….

Cam’s voice sounded familiar, but I couldn’t place it. He talked about wanting to show his face on camera, and one night he did. I was shocked when I realized he was the son of my co-workers. I’ve known him since he was about 14 via various “family night” activities sponsored by my employer. Cam has always been out and proud, and now that he’s of legal age, he’s clearly decided he wants to be very out.”

The advice seeker added, “I want to make it clear that I’m not looking for permission to ask him out, have sex with him, be his sugar daddy, etc.” Instead, he’s worried that the young man might be “setting himself up for trouble down the road, as I know that people record webcammers and post the videos all over the internet.”

He also said that he has stopped watching the young performer as the idea of someone so young on display squicks him out a bit.

To Prudence’s credit, she finds the 38-year-old’s letter a bit squicky too and tells him to keep his trap shut because voicing his disapproval and reservations won’t help anyone.

“You didn’t care about whether the parents of the 18-year-old webcammer you were getting off to knew what he was doing before you realized he was an acquaintance. Nothing’s changed….

You’d just be letting him know you don’t respect his boundaries or the implied circle of discretion that surrounds both the streamer and the stream-watcher. Find someone else to watch whose parents you don’t know, continue to tip generously, and move on.”

Indeed, as well-meaning as the 38-year-old might be, his letter is a tad ageist and assumes that the young man doesn’t know how the internet works. In this day and age of widespread sexting, who hasn’t considered that their sexy times won’t resurface at some later date? Luckily, fewer and fewer people seem to care, unless you’re running for public office (and sometimes not even then).

www.queerty.com/tell-co-worker-teen-son-gay-adult-video-20190530?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Darryl Stephens Wants You to Hear These 20 Artists Making a Queer Moment in Black Music Happen: VIDEOS

Actor, author, and singer-songwriter Darryl Stephens (Noah’s Arc) tweeted out a stupendous thread of music on Wednesday night that’s worth adding to your playlists immediately.

View this post on Instagram

Keep keepin’ on.

A post shared by Darryl Stephens (@darrylstephens) on Apr 4, 2019 at 4:15pm PDT

Tweeted Stephens: “There’s a queer moment happening in Black music right now that no one is talking about. My friend Rahsaan just dropped a new album, but… we also got Syd, Frank, Steve Lacy, Tyler, Brockhampton, Tayla Parx, and probably a bunch of people I’m too old to know. GET INTO US!”

So get listening, because Stephens has created an incredible Pride playlist, which we’ve recreated for you below, and Stephens is still adding to it. Thank you for the music, Darryl:

Kevin Abstract “Baby Boy”.

The Internet “Come Over”.

Shaun Ross “Chrysalis”.

Steve Lacy “Playground”.

Leven Kali “Do U Wrong” featuring Syd.

Tayla Parx “I Want You”

Teyana Taylor “WTP” featuring MYKKI Blanco.

MNEK “Colour”.

Tyler the Creator “EARFQUAKE”.

Rahsaan Patterson “Catch Me When I Fall”.

B. Slade “Wonder”.

Janelle Monae “Dirty Computer”.

Kaytranada “You’re The One”.

Shea Diamond “Keisha Complexion”.

Durand Bernarr “Redbone”.

J-E-T-S “PLAY” featuring MYKKI Blanco.

Nakhane “Clairvoyant”.

Victoria Monét and Ariana Grande “Monolopoly”.

Keiynan Lonsdale “Preach”.

Blood Orange “Jewelry”.

Todrick “Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels”.

The post Darryl Stephens Wants You to Hear These 20 Artists Making a Queer Moment in Black Music Happen: VIDEOS appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Darryl Stephens Wants You to Hear These 20 Artists Making a Queer Moment in Black Music Happen: VIDEOS

Taron Egerton Reads His Fan’s Thirstiest Tweets: WATCH

Taron Egerton‘s Elton John biopic Rocketman opens tomorrow, and in a new video he’s finding out just how many people want to ride his rocket.

Watch as Egerton hears Twitter users enthuse about his “pip pip cheerio ass” and ask him to destroy their bussies.

Egerton was profiled earlier this month in The Hollywood Reporter where he talked about preparing for the film by reading Elton’s old diaries at the icon’s estate, and spoke about how the singer’s receding hairline and front gap tooth were recreated.

He talked as well about the gay sex scenes in the film, and playing a gay man.

Said Egerton: “For me, kissing a man onscreen is no less appealing than kissing a woman onscreen. I’m not in any way repulsed by the male form. It’s an uncomfortable thing regardless of who you’re with — it makes no difference as to your sexual preference.”

Added Egerton, of straight actors playing gay roles: “I have spoken to gay people for whom it’s not a problem, and I’ve spoken to gay people for whom it is a problem. I completely understand. But for my part, I’m an actor, and I did not get into acting to just play people like me. You have to draw the line somewhere, and I don’t want to live in a world where straight people play straight people and gay people play gay people.”

The post Taron Egerton Reads His Fan’s Thirstiest Tweets: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Taron Egerton Reads His Fans’ Thirstiest Tweets: WATCH

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: May 30, 2019

MAINE GOVERNOR JANET MILLS SIGNS LEGISLATION PROTECTING LGBTQ YOUTH FROM “CONVERSION THERAPY”: “We’re grateful to Gov. Janet Mills for signing this bill into law, the Maine state legislature — especially lead sponsor Rep. Ryan Fecteau — and EqualityMaine for their leadership in taking up this important issue,” said Marty Rouse, HRC national field director. The bill was passed with strong bipartisan support and makes Maine the 17th state in the U.S. to protect youth from this egregious practice. Read more from HRC.

Maine joins…

California
Connecticut
Delaware
Hawaii
Illinois
Maryland
Massachusetts
New Jersey
New Hampshire
New Mexico
New York
Nevada
Oregon
Rhode Island
Vermont
Washington
D.C.
Puerto Rico

…in protecting LGBTQ youth from “conversion therapy.” t.co/ydevH08EPK pic.twitter.com/WlNDwXYWeV

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) May 29, 2019

YESTERDAY, TRANS ACTIVISTS RALLIED AT THE WHITE HOUSE TO PROTEST THE TRUMP-PENCE ADMIN’S MOST RECENT ATTACKS ON TRANS AND NON-BINARY PEOPLE: HRC’s Jay Brown (@ThisIsJayBrown) spoke at the rally. Read more from the Washington Blade.

• Reproductive rights groups and LGBTQ health organizations have gone to court to challenge an HHS regulation that would allow medical providers to cite their personal beliefs in refusing to provide a broad spectrum of services — including lifesaving care for LGBTQ patients. More from CNN.
• Boston Globe columnist Renée Graham (@reneeygraham) writes, “Weeks before worldwide celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots that marked the beginning of the modern LGBTQ civil rights movement, the Trump administration is systematically rolling back still more hard-won gains for transgender people.” Read the column here.

THANKFUL THURSDAY — HRC HIGHLIGHTS THE VOICES OF API LGBTQ PEOPLE AND THEIR UNIQUE COMING OUT EXPERIENCES FOR ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH: Watch the video here.

TRANSGENDER ACTIVISTS AND PIONEERS SYLVIA RIVERA AND MARSHA P. JOHNSON TO BE HONORED WITH PUBLIC MONUMENT IN NEW YORK CITY: More from the Washington Post and The New York Times.

LYFT ADDS PRONOUN OPTIONS FOR RIDERS: Riders are now able to select their pronouns on their profiles. Lyft also offers a “Round Up and Donate” program, which benefits HRC. More from Mashable.

HUNDREDS GATHERED TUESDAY AT FUNERAL FOR MUHLAYSIA BOOKER, BLACK TRANSGENDER WOMAN KILLED EARLIER THIS MONTH IN DALLAS: Before her death, Booker had been a courageous voice against the violence she experienced during an attack in April. Read more from KERA News.

• Black transgender women in Dallas have feared for their safety and their lives since Booker was killed. “This is not a game, someone’s life is gone,” said Booker’s friend, Robyn Crowe. More from BuzzFeed and NBC DFW.

CONGRATS TO HRC’S SARAH MCBRIDE (@SarahEMcBride), NAMED TO APOLITICAL’S 2019 GENDER EQUALITY TOP 100 LIST: See the full list here, and read more from Reuters.

THIRD MAN CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH STRING OF VIOLENT CRIMES TARGETING GAY AND BISEXUAL MEN IN THE DALLAS AREA: More from Dallas News.

JARED ROTE, A BLACK GAY MAN, WAS ATTACKED IN MORGANTOWN, W. VA.: Police have opened an investigation and the local LGBTQ community gathered Monday to rally around Rote. More from WV Public Radio.

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

ASSAILANTS BROKE INTO THE HOME OF RUSSIAN LGBT NETWORK WORKER AND THREATENED VIOLENCE: The organization has been instrumental in protecting LGBTQ people in Chechnya. Read the full report from the Human Rights Watch.

READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!
Portfolio Advisor looks at why LGBTQ-inclusive businesses perform better; KPBS reports on the first-of-its-kind shelter for trans youth in San Francisco; HRC video featuring Lupe, who aged out of foster care and thought she would never find a family until she met her two dads, was nominated for a Heartland Emmy.

Last year, @HRC was honored to share Lupe’s story.

Lupe, who aged out of foster care, never thought she would find unconditional love in the form of a family. And then she met her two dads.

Today, we’re excited to announce that Lupe’s video was nominated for a @HeartlandEmmy. pic.twitter.com/y8Hq56JNuZ

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) May 30, 2019

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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