Dem. Candidate: I’ll Restore Benefits to Gay Vets Discharged by DADT

Many vets received less-than-honorable discharges under the policy, affecting their eligibility for benefits. Rep. Seth Moulton unveils a plan to upgrade them.

www.advocate.com/politics/2019/6/06/dem-candidate-ill-restore-benefits-gay-vets-discharged-dadt

Australian Rugby Superstar Seeks $10 Million in Damages Over Firing for Homophobic Remarks

Australian rugby superstar Israel Folau, who last month had his contract officially terminated by Rugby Australia for anti-LGBTQ remarks including that Hell awaits homosexuals, is suing Rugby Autralia for $10 million.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports: “According to documents filed with the Commission, he is seeking a ruling that RA’s actions were unlawful and at least $5 million in lost income if the case is heard in the Federal Court. He will also seek to have included in the bill the monetary value of lost opportunities, which could blow the claim out to $10 million, a source close to Folau’s team said.”

In April, Rugby Australia said it was terminating Folau’s contract after the player posted a meme to Instagram that said Hell awaits all homosexuals. Folau challenged the firing and the “code of conduct” panel was assembled.

View this post on Instagram

Those that are living in Sin will end up in Hell unless you repent. Jesus Christ loves you and is giving you time to turn away from your sin and come to him. _______________ Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these , adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19‭-‬21 KJV _______________ Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:38 KJV _______________ And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Acts 17:30 KJV _______________

A post shared by Israel Folau (@izzyfolau) on Apr 10, 2019 at 1:18am PDT

Said Rugby Australia at the time: “Rugby Australia and the New South Wales Rugby Union have made repeated attempts to contact Israel both directly and via his representatives since 6.30pm on Wednesday, and at this point he has failed to communicate directly with either organisation. Whilst Israel is entitled to his religious beliefs, the way in which he has expressed these beliefs is inconsistent with the values of the sport. We want to make it clear that he does not speak for the game with his recent social media posts.”

You may recall that Folau was nearly expelled from the sport in 2018 after a series of similar homophobic actions.

Folau, a devout Christian raised as a Mormon who converted to the Assemblies of God fellowship with his family in 2011, made headlines in September 2017 during Australia’s debate over same-sex marriage, when he tweeted, “I love and respect all people for who they are and their opinions. but personally, I will not support gay marriage.”

One year ago in April 2018, Folau replied to a follower in an Instagram post who asked, “what was gods plan for gay people?”

In the comments section of the post, Folau, who plays for New South Wales Waratahs, replied, “HELL.. Unless they repent of their sins and turn to God.”

Rugby Australia and the New South Wales Waratahs, for which Folau plays, said they would seek an explanation from Folau and denounced the player.

Rugby Australia declined to punish Folau, though its inclusion policy states: “Rugby has and must continue to be a sport where players, officials, volunteers, supporters and administrators have the right and freedom to participate regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race or religion and without fear of exclusion. There is no place for homophobia or any form of discrimination in our game and our actions and words both on and off the field must reflect this.”

Then, one month after coming under scrutiny, Folau tweeted an anti-gay video.

The video featured a sermon by evangelical preacher David Wilkerson and footage of a Pride march where Christian street preachers were being protested, and a clip of the White House lit in rainbow colors against narration that said, “Now is the time to get right with God because this generation has lost the fear of God. There’s no fear of God left in the land.”

Folau also said he’d rather walk away from rugby than defy the Bible.

The post Australian Rugby Superstar Seeks $10 Million in Damages Over Firing for Homophobic Remarks appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Australian Rugby Superstar Seeks $10 Million in Damages Over Firing for Homophobic Remarks

Billy Porter Tells Straight Actors How ‘Enraging’ Their Gay Casting Is

The Pose star discussed the limited opportunities for gay actors of color. 

www.advocate.com/television/2019/6/06/billy-porter-tells-straight-actors-how-enraging-their-gay-casting

Trump deals huge blow to HIV research with new policy

Renewing his attacks on the queer community (despite selling T-shirts promoting LGBTQ support), Donald Trump has canceled vital AIDS research.

Trump officials cited the president’s commitment to anti-abortion forces. A spokesperson for the White House said: “This was the president’s decision, another important policy … to protect the dignity of human life.” Anonymous officials also say that Vice President Mike Pence played a crucial role in the decision as well.

Related: Scientists make breakthrough in HIV research by destroying ‘reservoir’ cells

The new policy bans testing HIV therapies on fetal tissue taken from elective abortions. In essence, doctors harvested the leftover tissue to test experimental treatments. The process began in the 1930s and has been used in the development of a number of therapies, including finding new treatments for kidney failure, AIDS and Parkinson’s Disease. The medical community has widely characterized the practice as vital to disease research since the fetal tissue can be used to mimic a variety of cells found in the human body. No substitute has yet been discovered.

University of California San Francisco Chancellor Sam Hawgood hotly criticized the move as detrimental to disease research.

“At UCSF, today’s action ends a 30-year partnership with the [National Institutes of Health] (NIH) to use specially designed models that could be developed only through the use of fetal tissue to find a cure for HIV,” Hawgood said. “UCSF exercised appropriate oversight and complied with all state and federal laws. We believe this decision to be politically motivated, shortsighted and not based on sound science.”

www.queerty.com/trump-deals-huge-blow-hiv-research-new-policy-20190606?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

NYPD Commissioner Apologizes to LGBTQ Community for 1969 Raid on Stonewall Inn: WATCH

NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill apologized today to the LGBTQ community for the 1969 raid on the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village that took place 50 years ago this month which is seen as the birth of the modern LGBTQ rights movement.

Said O’Neill: “I think it would be irresponsible to go through World Pride month and not to speak of the events at the Stonewall Inn in June of 1969. I’m certainly not going to stand up here and pretend to be an expert of what happened at Stonewall. I do know what happened should not have happened. The actions taken by the NYPD were wrong, plain and simple. The actions and the laws were discriminatory and oppressive, and for that, I apologize.”

O’Neill’s remarks come one day after NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson said the apology was an action that the NYPD should take.

The post NYPD Commissioner Apologizes to LGBTQ Community for 1969 Raid on Stonewall Inn: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

NYPD Commissioner Apologizes to LGBTQ Community for 1969 Raid on Stonewall Inn: WATCH

Goldman Sachs Sued After Firing Gay Executive

William Littleton claims his termination came after calling out discrimination in the workplace.

www.advocate.com/news/2019/6/06/goldman-sachs-sued-after-firing-gay-executive

This woman’s hilarious video about ‘straight pride’ is so funny even straight people are sharing it
Eva Victor’s explanation to her boyfriend why she’s so excited about attending the “Straight Pride” parade has gone viral for all the right reasons…

www.queerty.com/womans-hilarious-video-straight-pride-funny-even-straight-people-sharing-20190606?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29