Amid Threats and Leaks, Tbilisi, Georgia Sees First LGBTQ Pride Event

Activists gathered after threats forced an earlier cancellation.

www.advocate.com/world/2019/7/08/amid-threats-and-leaks-tbilisi-georgia-sees-first-lgbtq-pride-event

Defying physics, Netflix gets even gayer in July

For anyone craving a few new style tips or just a bit of day-to-day inspiration, look no further. The new trailer for Queer Eye‘s fourth season just landed.

Season 4 of the hit Netflix revival series finds the Fab Five–Antoni Porowski, Bobby Berk, Jonathan Van Ness, Karamo Brown and Tan France, returning to Kansas City, Missouri to give a few makeovers, and provide some life guidance as well. 

Related: Jonathan Van Ness from “Queer Eye” comes out as non-binary

Based on the groundbreaking Bravo reality series, the revival of Queer Eye has earned wide acclaim for its makeovers of both straight and queer people, as well as for offering inspirational and often moving perspectives for finding self-confidence.  The show has picked up three Emmy Awards, and Netflix has already renewed the show for a fifth season.

Season 4 of Queer Eye comes to Netflix July 19.

www.queerty.com/defying-physics-netflix-gets-even-gayer-july-20190708?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Could This Be the First Out Gay Man Elected to the U.S. Senate?

Former diplomat Dan Baer, who just landed an endorsement from the Victory Fund, hopes to unseat Colorado’s Cory Gardner.

www.advocate.com/politics/2019/7/08/could-be-first-out-gay-man-elected-us-senate

Nivea continues to ignore homophobic controversy despite mounting public outcry

It’s been over two weeks since it was first reported that Nivea had been dropped by its long-time ad agency following accusations of homophobia and the firestorm surrounding the global skincare brand is only growing hotter.

Quick recap: According to Ad Age, it all started when the brand rejected an image the ad agency pitched depicting two men’s hands touching.

In a call with agency creatives, a rep from Nivea allegedly said, “We don’t do gay at Nivea,” unaware that one of the people on the call was gay.

In response, the ad agency announced it was terminating its account with the skincare company at the end of 2019, when its contract expires.

Shortly after the story broke, Nivea rushed out a statement saying “we don’t comment on unsubstantiated speculations” and touting its commitment to tolerance and diversity:

We are an international company with more than 20,000 employees with very different genders, ethnicities, orientations, backgrounds and personalities worldwide. Through our products, we touch millions of consumers around the globe every day. We know and cherish  that individuality and diversity in all regards brings inspiration and creativity to our society and to us as a company.

But the statement did nothing to mitigate the severity of the matter. Soon, the brand was at the center of a full-fledged PR nightmare, where it still remains almost three weeks later.

Despite a huge public outcry and calls for boycotts, the company hasn’t issued any further comment about the controversy.

Not only that, but @NIVEAUSA hasn’t updated its Twitter page since June 16, shortly before the scandal broke, with a tweet about it’s creme moisture body wash.

It’s almost as though Nivea execs are hoping that if they just ignore this long enough maybe it’ll go away.

Unfortunately for them, it doesn’t look like that’s gonna happen.

People have been furiously tweeting pictures and videos of themselves discarding their Nivea products into trash bins.

Since @NIVEAUSA does not do gay… I don’t do @niveausa . #nivea #homophobia @Beiersdorf_AG happy pride!! pic.twitter.com/I5TduYHZiy

— Decidocisum (@madg1976) July 2, 2019

@NIVEAUSA @NiveaAustralia “ we don’t do gay at Nivea “ LMAO BYE #nivea pic.twitter.com/kvcQUM4qOe

— Venus Vontrapp (@VenusVontrapp) July 4, 2019

Nivea “don’t do gay?”.. I’m sure we won’t do Nivea now, either. #Nivea @Beiersdorf_AG @NIVEAUSA @niveauk ? pic.twitter.com/6cGj6deGVu

— @womanofappetite (@womanofappetite) July 4, 2019

@NIVEAUSA dont do gay? We dont do nivea. #nivea pic.twitter.com/6weyf9Q9p1

— Andreas Munkholm (@Andrmunk) July 6, 2019

Hey @NIVEAMENUSA I hear you don’t do gay. Well I don’t do #Nivea anymore. All products in the bin. Never buying again. pic.twitter.com/YGxJKUfxRW

— Wayne Tunks (@waynetunks) July 4, 2019

After a 100-year long relationship Nivea Crème dropped by ad agency FCB due to homophobic comment “We don’t do #gay at #Nivea” over marketing call @NIVEA_Germany your “strong commitment to diversity” better become actually visible, or I will stop. Ich bin auch deutsch und #schwul pic.twitter.com/sQM0jrjqxR

— Miros?awa Štern® RMX (@Generacija78) July 4, 2019

Nivea doesn’t do gay? I don’t do Nivea. Are you with me? #NOMoreNivea #Nivea pic.twitter.com/7skLfUCkop

— Beverly Buttercup (@BevButtercup) July 7, 2019

They’ve also taken to Instagram to voice their disdain for the brand:

View this post on Instagram

Yep. I don’t and will never do Nivea. What a backward company. ? . #nivea #homophobic #homophobia #homophobe #discrimination #idontdonivea #dontdonivea #follow #f4f #followme #followforfollow #follow4follow #teamfollowback #followbackteam #followall #followalways #followback #love #pleasefollow #follows #follower #following

A post shared by Andre Ling (@psychey) on Jul 5, 2019 at 4:16am PDT

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We’re saying #boycottnivea as they say #wedontdogay to their ad agency, @fcbglobal. KUDOS #fcbglobal for telling #Nivea, adios! Parent company, #Biersdorf’s response to allegations of active, high-level, homophobic discrimination at Nivea was not convincing or substantive.

A post shared by Thom Senzee (@lgbtsinthenews) on Jul 3, 2019 at 10:42pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

#byebyenivea #niveadontdogay #nivea

A post shared by Michael Colvin (@michaelmcolvin) on Jul 3, 2019 at 1:41am PDT

View this post on Instagram

#wedontdogay #idontdonivea

A post shared by Pierre Selim (@pierreselim) on Jul 6, 2019 at 10:25am PDT

Even George Takei has joined the chorus, encouraging his 3 million followers last week to boycott the brand:

“Nivea was shown an ad proposal from their agency that had two men touching hands. Their response? ‘We don’t do gay at Nivea.’ Well, sorry, but from here forward, we gays and our friends don’t do Nivea.”

Nivea was shown an ad proposal from their agency that had two men touching hands. Their response? “We don’t do gay at Nivea.” Well, sorry, but from here forward, we gays and our friends don’t do Nivea. @NIVEAUSA

— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) July 2, 2019

Takei’s tweet has received nearly 21K likes and 5K retweets.

This is definitely going to require more than just a general statement about “unsubstantiated speculations.”

Your move, Nivea.

Related: Gays kick off “LGBTQ Wrath Month” by boycotting Nivea amid allegations of homophobia

www.queerty.com/nivea-continues-ignore-homophobic-controversy-despite-mounting-public-outcry-20190708?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Jeffrey Epstein, Tom Steyer, Eric Swalwell, Lil Nas X, Maleficent, Jaden Smith, Sarah Jessica Parker: HOT LINKS

EMPIRE? New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signs bill allowing congressional committees to access the president’s state tax returns: ‘The bill requires state tax officials to release the president’s state returns for any “specified and legitimate legislative purpose” on the request of the chair of one of three congressional committees: the House Ways and Means Committee, the Senate Finance Committee and the Joint Committee on Taxation.’

BIG MOVIE STAR. Sarah Jessica Parker once reported a co-star for sexual harassment.

JEFFREY EPSTEIN. New sex trafficking charges against millionaire financier: “The new charges, described in a 14-page indictment brought by the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan, could lead to a much harsher penalty. Epstein is charged in a two-count indictment with sex trafficking and sex trafficking conspiracy, for crimes alleged to have occurred between 2002 and 2005. Each charge carries a penalty of no less than 10 years in prison, with the possibility of a life sentence. The Justice Department is also seeking to seize Epstein’s mansion on the Upper East Side of Manhattan where some of the alleged crimes occurred.”

ERIC SWALWELL. Out of the race? “Eric Swalwell will hold a press conference on Monday afternoon in Dublin. The event was announced Sunday amid rumors his presidential campaign is nearing its end.”

TOM STEYER. Ready to enter? “Tom Steyer, the billionaire environmental activist who toyed with a 2020 presidential run before deciding against it, has told people he plans to announce that he’s entering the race for the Democratic nomination, according to three people familiar with his plans. Steyer had said in January that he was passing on a 2020 run.”

2020. Iowa, Nevada caucuses to allow voting by phone: “The tele-caucus systems, the result of a mandate from the Democratic National Committee, are aimed at opening the local-level political gatherings to more people, especially evening shift-workers and people with disabilities, whom critics of the caucuses have long said are blocked from the process.”

ENDORSEMENT OF THE DAY. Victory Fund endorses Dan Baer for Senate.

KEVIN SPACEY. Actor questioned by Scotland Yard about sexual assault.

MAUREEN DOWD. It is Nancy Pelosi’s parade.

SMOKE SCREEN. Netflix promises to reduce on-screen smoking after complaints about Stranger Things.

BOTSWANA. Government to appeal law legalizing gay sex: ‘The court’s ruling in June, which was praised by international organisations and activists, meant Botswana joined a handful of African countries that have legalised same-sex relationships. The attorney general, Abraham Keetshabe, said in a statement released late on Friday that the high court was mistaken in its conclusion in overturning the colonial-era law.’

I LOVE YOU. Jaden Smith launches food truck offering free vegan meals to the homeless.

View this post on Instagram

The @ILoveYouRestaurant Is A Movement That Is All About Giving People What They Deserve, Healthy, Vegan Food For Free. Today We Launched Our First One Day Food Truck Pop-Up in Downtown LA. Keep A Look Out Because This Is The First Of Many #JADENinc

A post shared by Jaden (@c.syresmith) on Jul 7, 2019 at 5:05pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

The @ILoveYouRestaurant Is A Movement That Is All About Giving People What They Deserve, Healthy, Vegan Food For Free. Today We Launched Our First One Day Food Truck Pop-Up in Downtown LA. Keep A Look Out Because This Is The First Of Many #JADENinc

A post shared by Jaden (@c.syresmith) on Jul 7, 2019 at 5:06pm PDT

SANDWICH OF THE DAY. Lil Nas X makes a panini with Gordon Ramsay.

CLOSE CALL OF THE DAY. Venice, Italy: “The Costa Deliziosa was filmed veering toward the bank of the Giardini della Biennal in the popular Italian tourist destination during heavy rain, strong winds and lightning. The huge vessel was being pulled along the canal by other tug boats in order to straighten itself out, narrowly avoiding hitting the dock’s edge and other smaller boats near it.”

TRAILER OF THE DAY. Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.

TRAILER OF THE DAY 2. A Black Lady Sketch Show.

MONDAY MUSCLE. Guto Oliveira.

View this post on Instagram

Boa noite!

A post shared by Guto Oliveira (@gutobahia) on Jul 7, 2019 at 5:38pm PDT

The post Jeffrey Epstein, Tom Steyer, Eric Swalwell, Lil Nas X, Maleficent, Jaden Smith, Sarah Jessica Parker: HOT LINKS appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Jeffrey Epstein, Tom Steyer, Eric Swalwell, Lil Nas X, Maleficent, Jaden Smith, Sarah Jessica Parker: HOT LINKS

The Little Mermaid is gayer than you ever could have imagined, say historians

The internet chatter continues over the casting of Halle Bailey (not to be confused with Halle Berry, which keeps happening because, of course it does), an African-American actress in the iconic role of Ariel in the new live-action remake of Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Now biographers of author Hans Christian Andersen have stepped forward to assert that Anderson wrote the story as a metaphor for love as a gay man.

Danish writer Andersen (1805-1875) wrote some of the most beloved of children’s stories, including “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” “Thumbelina” and “The Ugly Duckling.” Most biographers characterize him as gay or bisexual, having had intense romantic feelings for women as well as men.

Related: Lizzo still wants to be Ursula in ‘The Little Mermaid,’ and she has Twitter bewitched

On the heels of the casting announcement for the new film version, several historians note that The Little Mermaid serves as Andersen’s expression of unreturned love for a straight man: Edvard Collin. Says writer Rictor Norton: “In letters written to his beloved young friend Edvard Collin in 1835–6 Andersen said ‘Our friendship is like The Mysteries, it should not be analyzed,’ and ‘I long for you as though you were a beautiful Calabrian girl.’ In the fairy tale, written when Collin decided to get married, Andersen displays himself as the sexual outsider who lost his prince to another.”

Norton also points out the important distinction that Disney changed the ending of the story from Andersen’s own. In the author’s incarnation, the mermaid dies when her handsome prince falls for a human woman. She then dies and becomes a spirit of the air because of her steadfast love and chastity. The latter point is a key one when addressing Andersen’s life: he reportedly remained celibate throughout his life.

In light of the historical roots of Andersen’s tale, we hope that Disney will give a shout out to the queer community by including some mermen in love. Failing that, they could also audition Harvey Fierstein or Lizzo for the role of Ursula the sea witch. We’d definitely watch that movie.

www.queerty.com/little-mermaid-gayer-ever-imagined-say-historians-20190708?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Harlem Gay Bar’s Rainbow Flag Burned for Second Time in Two Months

Someone burned the rainbow flags outside Alibi Lounge, Harlem’s only gay bar, for the second time in two months on Monday. The original incident took place just after midnight on May 31.

View this post on Instagram

Sad to report that few weeks after the first incident, someone has once again set our pride flags on fire! We simply have no words! #Harlem #gaybar #pride #gaypride #nycpride #worldpride

A post shared by Alibi Lounge (@alibiharlem) on Jul 7, 2019 at 10:15pm PDT

The AP reports: “Alibi Lounge owner Alexi Minko said staff members, alerted by someone on the street, found the flag had been set aflame between 12:20 a.m. and 12:45 a.m. … Monday’s flag-burning is also being investigated as a possible hate crime and no suspects have yet been identified, a New York City police spokesman said. Minko said staff members didn’t catch a glimpse of a potential suspect, but the building’s landlord has cameras trained on the bar’s front door.”

The post Harlem Gay Bar’s Rainbow Flag Burned for Second Time in Two Months appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Harlem Gay Bar’s Rainbow Flag Burned for Second Time in Two Months