Houston Restaurant Server Calls Customer ‘Fat,’ ‘Gay’ on Receipt

The customer says he won’t go back to the establishment.

www.advocate.com/business/2019/6/26/houston-restaurant-server-calls-customer-fat-gay-receipt

Photos: West Hollywood falls to its knees for Ash Wednesday
Catholics may go to church on Sundays to absolve themselves of sins, but WeHoans in the know go to The Abbey on Wednesdays to commit as many “sins” (read, “fun”) as possible.

www.queerty.com/photos-west-hollywood-falls-knees-ash-wednesday-20190626?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Watch the First 2020 Democratic Primary Presidential Debate: LIVE VIDEO

10 of 20 Democratic candidates face off in tonight’s first Democratic Primary debate from 9-11 pm ET in Miami, in the Knight Concert Hall of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County. Pre-coverage starts at 8 pm.Watch it via this livestream. If you’d like to open it in a new tab, click HERE.

THE CANDIDATES: Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren; Former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke; Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard; Former Housing and Urban Development secretary Julián Castro; New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio; New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker; Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar; Former Maryland Rep. John Delaney; Washington Gov. Jay Inslee; Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan.

The other 10 candidates (split because there are just too many for one stage) will face questions on Thursday night at the same venue. The debates will be broadcast on NBC, MSNBC and Telemundo. Savannah Guthrie, Lester Holt, Chuck Todd, Rachel Maddow, and José Diaz-Balart of Telemundo will be moderating.

Expect questions on the economy, the environment, gun control, health care, immigration (migrant children?), the military, education and trade.

Politico reports that Trump has planned a robust response strategy: “The strategy includes traditional elements — a rapid-response squad to field reporters’ questions, round-the-clock talking points and a ground force on site in Miami, where the debate is being held — but also a digitally focused war room looking for viral clips. Outside groups that support the president have also built up their own fact-checking resources and made large pre-debate ad buys, hoping to capitalize on the massive cable news audience the two-night primetime event is expected to attract.”

Trump has said he might live tweet during the debates. Oh joy.

ON THURSDAY NIGHT: California Sen. Kamala Harris; Former Vice President Joe Biden; Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders; South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg; New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand; Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet; Author and speaker Marianne Williamson; California Rep. Eric Swalwell; Entrepreneur Andrew Yang; Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper.

What are you looking to get out of tonight’s debate?

The post Watch the First 2020 Democratic Primary Presidential Debate: LIVE VIDEO appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Watch the First 2020 Democratic Primary Presidential Debate: LIVE VIDEO

HRC Mourns the Loss of Brooklyn Lindsey

HRC is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Brooklyn Lindsey, a Black transgender woman killed in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 25. Police found Lindsey, 32, dead on the front porch of an abandoned home at 6:30 a.m., according to local news reports. Her death is being investigated as a homicide.

The Kansas City Star notes that, while the cause of death has not been confirmed, there was clear trauma to Lindsey’s face. In addition, gunshots were heard in the neighborhood earlier in the day following an argument. In 2015, Jasmine Collins — also a 32-year old Black trans woman — was run over by a car and killed just blocks away. 

Friends and family took to social media to mourn Lindsey. “I love you, Brooklyn Lindsey,” wrote one person. “I shall live on for you. Rest in power, sista.” Local news outlets are asking anyone with information about this case to call the TIPS Hotline.

The Kansas City Anti-Violence Project, in a statement about Lindsey’s death, said:  “We must support one another and create a strong foundation to end the senseless violence against us all! … We MUST get justice! We MUST end the silence around this black trans violence!”

Tragically, Lindsey’s death is the eleventh known case of deadly violence against the transgender community in 2019; all of the victims were Black transgender women. Last year, advocates tracked the deaths of at least 26 transgender people in the U.S., the majority of whom were also transgender women of color.

In November, ahead of Transgender Day of Remembrance, HRC Foundation released “A National Epidemic: Fatal Anti-Transgender Violence in America in 2018,” a heartbreaking report honoring the trans people killed and detailing the contributing and motivating factors that lead to this tragic violence.

It is clear that fatal violence disproportionately affects transgender women of color, and that the intersections of racism, transphobia, sexism, biphobia and homophobia conspire to deprive them of necessities to live and thrive.

This epidemic of violence that disproportionately targets transgender people of color — particularly Black transgender women — must cease.

hrc.org/blog/hrc-mourns-the-loss-of-brooklyn-lindsey?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

WATCH: New, behind the scenes clip from ‘Pose’ season 2

Pose continues its reign as the most fabulous show on television. Now in its second season, the Ryan Murphy-produced drama about the New York drag ball scene in 1980s and 90s New York has attracted a loyal fanbase and wide critical acclaim for a diverse cast and examination of queer history.

The new clip shares some candid moments with the cast as they returned to film the new season, as well as insight to the ways in which their lives have changed, and what they love about the show.

Related: ‘Pose’ gets an early green light for season three

“A lot of kids, young kids, are now standing firm in who they are and taking complete control of their life,” says star MJ Rodriguez, who plays the character Blanca, of the show’s impact. “A lot of them who have been ostracized are going places to make sure they find the right family to be around.”

“It’s beyond a dream come true,” adds star Billy Porter, who plays the ball emcee Pray Tell. “I didn’t know it’s what I needed. It was something that I wasn’t dreaming about.”

Season 2 debuted to positive reviews and strong viewership earlier this month. Pose airs on FX Tuesday nights.

www.queerty.com/watch-new-behind-scenes-clip-pose-season-2-20190626?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Bette Midler, Spitting on Eric Trump, Madrid, Larry Kramer, Damron Guide, Jack Falahee: WATCH

BETTE MIDLER. The Divine Miss M will be performing at one of the major NYC Pride events this Saturday at the Javits Center: ‘In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Stonewall, she’ll perform a song accompanied by composer Marc Shaiman, of “Hairspray” and “Mary Poppins Returns” fame. Her stage time is set for 11 p.m.’

FORGOTTEN HISTORY. Gay entrapment.

HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT. The gay Jewish matador from Brooklyn.

DEFENDING KEVIN SPACEY. Dame Judi Dench. “You cannot deny somebody a talent. You might as well never look at a Caravaggio painting. You might as well never have gone to see Noel Coward.”

THE DAMRON GUIDE. The U.S. guide essential to every gay man before the internet came along may not publish another issue: ‘For 45 years The Address Book, later renamed Damron Men’s Travel Guide, steered LGBTQ people from coast to cocktail lounge. It started before you could kiss on the beach on your Los Angeles vacation. In 1965, gay sex was a crime everywhere but Illinois. The Stonewall uprising, a turning point in modern gay history, was still four years away. Damron’s pastel book told you where in Allentown, Pennsylvania, you could get a beer without getting being beat up. If you lived in Covington, Kentucky, you’d learn that Joche Bo’s was a good a weekend-only spot. In Los Angeles alone, you’d find more than a dozen bars and bathhouses.’

LAS VEGAS. Long-running gay bar Bastille on 3rd closes.

CHECHNYA. Gay man describes abduction, beatings, electrocution: “These police officers are accustomed to torturing people … Some men I know told me that some were left hanging from the ceiling, had been suffocated with a plastic bag or even raped with the police bat. This kind of torture can last for weeks.”

QUEEN. Harry Tarre screenplay based on Corey Rae’s article, “How I Became the World’s First Transgender Prom Queen — A Personal Essay,” is being developed into a film by Red Crown Productions: “As the title of the article suggests, the screenplay is based on the true story of Rae’s real-life high school transition process and how she became the world’s first openly transgender prom queen.”

JUSSIE SMOLLETT. The Empire actor googled himself a lot after the alleged attack.

MADRID. New city government accused of censoring Pride messages: ‘Among the slated slogans were: “To those who remember the repression”, “To those who stood firm” and “To those who were there when we were not”. However, a new local government led by the conservative Popular Party (PP) has replaced that of Carmena following local elections in May. Más Madrid says that the new administration has eliminated from the Gay Pride publicity the messages that harked back to the past campaign for gay rights. Instead, a blanket slogan has been used: “Our greatest pride.” “I think it’s indecent to censor messages that refer back to the achievements of those people, and the memory of those people, who have allowed us to enjoy the rights which, 30 years ago, were unthinkable,” said Rita Maestre, spokeswoman for Más Madrid.’

CHICAGO. Woman spits on Eric Trump at popular upscale bar.

LARRY KRAMER. The View salutes the longtime AIDS activist.

FOOD TRY OF THE DAY. A peanut butter and mayonnaise sandwich.

TEASER OF THE DAY. Bond 25.

21 SONGS. Every gay man knows.

TRAILER OF THE DAY. Orange Is The New Black Season 7.

HUMP DAY HAIRY. Jack Falahee.

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Cloudy pool days in DC. Could be worse.

A post shared by Jack Falahee (@jackfalahee) on Jun 24, 2019 at 2:07pm PDT

The post Bette Midler, Spitting on Eric Trump, Madrid, Larry Kramer, Damron Guide, Jack Falahee: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Bette Midler, Spitting on Eric Trump, Madrid, Larry Kramer, Damron Guide, Jack Falahee: WATCH

Marking Immigrant Heritage Month with LGBTQ Pride

As we celebrate Immigrant Heritage Month, we cannot forget those for whom visibility and celebration come at a high risk to their safety. Far too many immigrants and immigrant families live in constant fear because of the Trump-Pence administration’s cruel and reckless policies.

More than 300,000 non-citizens are held in immigrant detention centers each year and the majority of them will end up in privately-run facilities where federal performance standards regarding their treatment are regularly disregarded without repercussions.

For LGBTQ immigrants, this lack of accountability puts their lives at risk. 

Roxana Hernández, a transgender asylum seeker from Honduras, died in ICE custody in May 2018, and almost exactly one year later, Johana Medina, a trans asylum seeker from El Salvador, died just hours after being released from ICE custody. 

“It’s really hard to wear all of the colors of Pride right now when we have LGBTQ people seeking asylum in very dangerous and life-threatening conditions,” said Sissi Yado, HRC senior field manager. “There’s a lot of love out there that can be very healing, but we can’t forget the need to help asylum seekers get the support that they need to be safe.” 

Yado, who is based in Texas, has volunteered with groups working directly to support immigrants arriving at the southern border since 2014. Yado describes their work as a “bridge” based on the needs identified by people on the ground.

“Early on, the resources were not there when folks were seeking LGBTQ-specific immigration assistance,” Yado said. “We played a big role in connecting organizations working in the field to folks who were arriving and in need of immediate help.”

Ensuring safe places and supportive environments are especially important for LGBTQ immigrants. According to information provided by ICE in response to a request by Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-N.Y.), LGBTQ immigrants are detained twice as long as other immigrants and also face lengthy stays in solitary confinement despite ICE regulations that stipulate its use as a last resort. 

For transgender women, the situation is even more precarious. Trans women were detained on average more than twice the average length of detainment of all immigrants held in ICE custody during fiscal year 2017. Transgender people have also consistently reported harassment, assault and maltreatment from ICE officers due to their transgender status. 

“On the local community level, especially in San Diego, there are many emergency shelters popping up because people are coming in from the border and have nowhere to go,” said Tessa Cabrera, an immigration lawyer and HRC San Diego volunteer. “Officials are bringing them in and dropping them in the streets, but they need safe places to stay while their immigration cases are being resolved.”

Cabrera gave an example of a transgender client she worked with who was placed with a lesbian couple in San Diego after release from detainment. Having support from the couple helped Cabrera’s client integrate not just into the local community but also to find support from other LGBTQ people as her case is fought. 

“I think the most important thing that people can do if they can’t sponsor someone in need of housing is to get involved in their local politics, especially ahead of the next presidential election,” Cabrera said. “The people we elect really matter and have a direct impact on the lives of immigrants across the U.S.” 

Learn more about becoming a sponsor through our partners at the Santa Fe Dreamers Project by clicking here. For more information about about how to support the work of organizations providing direct assistance to LGBTQ asylum seekers at the southern border, check out the work of organizations including the San Diego LGBT Community Center, United We Dream, the Transgender Law Center, RAICES and the Los Angeles LGBT Center. 

hrc.org/blog/marking-immigrant-heritage-month-with-lgbtq-pride?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed