Trump’s Racist Rants and the Susceptibility of Wishy-Washy Acceptance
To get reelected, Trump is stirring up racial resentment and hate. Is homophobia and transphobia next?
www.advocate.com/commentary/2019/7/17/trumps-racist-rants-and-susceptibility-wishy-washy-acceptance
NBA superstar Dwight Howard says gay rumors “set me free”
View this post on Instagram“I feel like I’m chosen, I’m covered in gold……”
A post shared by Dwight Howard (@dwighthoward) on
NBA superstar Dwight Howard is finally opening up about those gay rumors that began circulating around him last year.
A little backstory: Last November, a man by the name of Masin Elije alleged that he had engaged in an ongoing sexual relationship with the NBA player and that he threatened to “beat the sh*t out of him” if he ever went public about it.
Elije claimed he first met Howard at a Wild n’ Out party. They kept in touch on Instagram where things “escalated quickly.” Soon they were swapping nudes and talking every night before bed.
“He was fine, 6’11, goofy, very charming, NO WIFE and NEVER been married so of course I was interested. I kept it real with him, and he kept it real with me about everything EXCEPT 1 THING…..” Elije wrote in a since-deleted social media post.
He claimed that Howard began secretly attending “transgender sex parties” without Elije’s knowledge, and when Elije learned about it, Howard threatened him with violence.
View this post on InstagramStill dragging her, so don’t pick up the bitch
A post shared by Masin Elijè (@masinelije) on
Elije further claimed that Howard offered him “hush money” in exchange for signing an NDA about their relationship. When he refused, Howard’s camp “begun to tell me things like ‘we know where you’re at’ ‘we are watching you’ ‘we saw what building you came out of’ and even went as deep to telling me ‘You gon find a new residence.’”
“So at this point, I am afraid for my life, I’m panicking, I’m having anxiety attacks and for a whole week I was bullied by Dwight’s team and Dwight Howard stood there and allowed his team to harass me, and I became a ‘f*ggot in a wig’ when Dwight is a 6’11 BOTTOM,” Elije said in a video posted to his social media account.
From the very beginning, Howard has denied the allegations, though he hasn’t spoken much about them, other than to say they aren’t true.
Until now.
In a new interview with Fox Sports 1’s Kristine Leahy, the 33-year-old talks about the impact the rumors had on him, saying that for a while they made him “never want to come outside again.”
“I went through a situation last year that really just set me free,” he recalls. “It ended up being a situation that was—it went viral.”
“People were talking about it, and it upset me because I didn’t even know who the person was. Why would somebody who I never met, never had any contact with, make up a whole story about me? I saw all the hate, the pure hate, from people that I’ve never met before, just pile up everywhere I went.”
Here’s a short clip from the interview, which will air tonight on FS1.
“I’m not gay… It hurt at first to go through it. I sat at home and I was like ‘I never want to come outside again.'” @DwightHoward spoke on the allegations that he was gay.
(?: @FairGameonFS1 | @KristineLeahy) pic.twitter.com/WcXz2WtOfY
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) July 16, 2019
Using FaceApp’s Aging Filter Gives a Russian Company Permission to Take More Than Your Youthful Looks
If you’ve been on social media lately, you’ve seen friends sharing photos put through an aging filter from FaceApp, an Android and iOS app made by a St. Petersburg, Russia-based company that has surged to the top of download charts.
When you take a trip to the Year 3000. pic.twitter.com/O9Dxpwj6ex
— Jonas Brothers (@jonasbrothers) July 16, 2019
FaceApp’s terms of service page is a DOOZY.
HT @DeeJ_BNGt.co/ngi4moO8YL pic.twitter.com/4MBSCYdfg9
— James Whatley (@Whatleydude) July 17, 2019
If you use #FaceApp you are giving them a license to use your photos, your name, your username, and your likeness for any purpose including commercial purposes (like on a billboard or internet ad) — see their Terms: t.co/e0sTgzowoN pic.twitter.com/XzYxRdXZ9q
— Elizabeth Potts Weinstein (@ElizabethPW) July 17, 2019
In its terms of service, users grant FaceApp “a perpetual, irrevocable, nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, fully-paid, transferable, sub-licensable license to use, reproduce … create derivative works from … and display your User Content and any name, username or likeness provided in connection with your User Content in all media formats and channels now known or later developed, without compensation to you.”‘
You also may be contributing to a face recognition database.
Said Jason Hill, lead cybersecurity researcher at CyberInt Technologies, spoke with USA Today: “[There] is no immediate evidence to suggest that FaceApp is performing any nefarious task.” But it could be compiling info, Hill added. “For example, collating photos associated with a user could, where present, allow image metadata, such as the location that a picture was taken, to be mapped and correlated with access logs, gathered when the user accesses the service, that will associate details of their IP address, ISP and the device (including browser, operating system and hardware).”
The post Using FaceApp’s Aging Filter Gives a Russian Company Permission to Take More Than Your Youthful Looks appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.
#AM_Equality Tipsheet: July 17, 2019
PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES ARE A FORMIDABLE VOTING BLOCK — MORE THAN 14M TURNED OUT FOR THE MIDTERMS: According to TIME, that turnout surpassed the 11.7 million Latinx voters and came close to the 15.2 million Black people who cast ballots last year. HRC is highlighting their voting power during National Disability Voter Registration Week. More from HRC.
Issues important to people with disabilities MUST be part of the platform for any candidate running for public office — that’s why we encourage you to join #REVUP and registering to vote 7.15–7.19. Let’s make the #DisabilityVote count: t.co/Y6oEdw1B3X
— AAPD (@AAPD) July 16, 2019
AWFUL — ALABAMA SENATE CANDIDATE JOHN MERRILL SAYS ‘HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVITIES’ RUINING MORAL FOUNDATION: “This attack on LGBTQ people and our values only further underscores the fact that the Alabama Senate Republican primary is becoming a race to the bottom and a competition for who is the most virulently anti-LGBTQ,” said HRC Project One America Director Meghan Kissell (@mkissell) . “Alabamians deserve a leader who fights for the equality of everyone and every community, not someone who would feel more comfortable in America’s oppressive past.” More from Advocate.
HRC REMEMBERS FORMER SUPREME COURT JUSTICE JOHN PAUL STEVENS, A POWERFUL VOICE FOR EQUALITY: More from The New York Times.
.@HRC mourns the loss of John Paul Stevens, a former Supreme Court Justice who was a critical voice for a more equitable and just future for all, including LGBTQ people. t.co/Yu7lR7Z2sc
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) July 17, 2019
WHAT WE’RE READING WEDNESDAY — FORTUNE LOOKS AT NEW EFFORT TO END WORKPLACE HARASSMENT OF LGBTQ EMPLOYEES: Inspired by the HRC’s Corporate Equality Index, Ally Coll (@allyrosecoll), co-founder of the anti-harassment organization the Purple Campaign (@campaign_purple), is developing a certification that will recognize companies taking appropriate steps to address workplace harassment. More from Fortune.
CONGRATULATIONS TO LGBTQ AND ALLIED CASTS AND CREW ON THEIR EMMY NOMINATIONS: Those nominated include FX’s Pose (@PoseOnFx), Billy Porter (@thebillyporter), Hannah Gadsby (@Hannahgadsby), Jane Lynch (@janemarielynch), Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox), Natasha Lyonne (@nylonne), Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette), Queer Eye (@QueerEye) and cast, RuPaul (@RuPaul) and RuPaul’s Drag Race (@RuPaulsDragRace), and Wanda Sykes (@iamwandasykes). More from HRC.
Strike a POSE: The groundbreaking series @PoseonFX was nominated for six Emmy Awards. t.co/N8tdLm6itG
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) July 16, 2019
PROGRESSIVE CHRISTIANS GATHER AT 8TH ANNUAL WILD GOOSE FESTIVAL, ORGANIZING AROUND ACTIVISM AND SPIRITUAL REVIVAL: More from Religion News Service.
JURY FINDS THAT NOW-FORMER IOWA GOV. TERRY BRANSTAD DISCRIMINATED AGAINST A STATE OFFICIAL BECAUSE HE IS GAY: The jury awarded $1.5 million to Chris Godfrey, who said that members of the jury “made the determination that [the state and Branstad] discriminated and retaliated against me and violated my constitutional rights.” More from the Des Moines Register.
GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS
NEW ZEALAND TO EXTEND SUPPORT FOR TRANSGENDER YOUTH IN NORTHLAND AND AUCKLAND: More from RNZ and Gay Star News.
CITIGROUP INC. EXTENDS HEALTH CARE COVERAGE, EMPLOYEE BENEFITS TO LGBTQ STAFF AND LIVE-IN PARTNERS IN INDIA: More from Economic Times.
INDIA LAWMAKERS REVISE TRANSGENDER RIGHTS BILL AMID BACKLASH FROM THE TRANS COMMUNITY: They removed a provision from a transgender rights bill that would have required transgender people to gain certification from a screening committee before being acknowledged as transgender. Transgender advocates remain skeptical as the government has yet to release the final draft of the bill. More from Gay Star News and The Telegraph India.
READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!
Advocate features powerful profile of two-spirited activist Jen Deerinwater’s (@JenDeerinwater) fight for visibility and justice
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!
www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-tipsheet-july-17-2019?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed
WeChat 7.0.5 for iOS and Android
Upgrade now to WeChat 7.0.5, available on the iOS App Store and Google Play and try the latest improvements and features
“Moments” allows you to share life’s most interesting experiences with your WeChat friends. In the latest version of Moments, we’ve made sharing even more “musical”. Now, you can search and add song snippets from WeChat’s comprehensive music collection to the videos you shoot and share to your Moments.
When browsing your friends’ Moments, videos will automatically play with the sound muted. You can tap on the video to view a fullscreen version of the video with audio. Worried about using too much data? Don’t worry, videos on WeChat use special methods to make video downloads on Moments use no more data than downloading a photo. Additionally, you can change your auto-play options within “Me” -> “Settings” => “General” => “Photos & Videos”.
Finally, at the request of many users, we’ve made it even easier for you to control WHO is able to view your Moments. When posting to Moments, you can select “Share List” => “Select from Groups” and select one or more groups who will have permission to view your Moments post. After selecting, only members of those groups will be able to view your post. This is another great way to make sure that only the people you care about see your personal photos, funny baby videos, or other Moments posts.
Select one or more groups. Afterwards, only members of these groups will be able to view your Moments post.
“Time Capsule” is WeChat’s latest major feature and allows you to share a short video story with your friends for a brief period of time. Now, Time Capsule supports selecting multiple photos from your photo album after which a photo montage will be automatically created. It’s a great way to share either photos OR videos with your friends.
Also, while sharing photos or videos, you can now search a song title, artist, or lyrics to accompany your video. An additional option allows you to display a song’s lyrics. Decorating your Time Capsule with song lyrics adds extra feeling to your Time Capsule.
Search and add a song from WeChat’s extensive music collection
Enable “Lyrics” to display song lyrics to accompany your Time Capsule video
Have you ever needed to view your chat messages while reading an article within WeChat or playing a Mini Game? It’s a hassle to back out of your article mid-stream in order to check your messages.
Floating Window was initially introduced in 2017 as a way for you to save your place and minimize an article while checking other parts of WeChat like chats. We’ve now greatly expanded Floating Window so that you can “float” up to 10 different windows. Windows can be articles, document previews, or nearly any other type of content. When viewing a music or audio Mini Program, you’ll also be able to see what’s playing via our new music display in Floating Window. Floating Window makes multi-tasking within WeChat a breeze.
When viewing an article, document preview, or other content, simply swipe right and hold to minimize the article to your Floating Window.
The Floating Window appears as a small tab that you can move around the screen.
Tapping on the Floating Window tab shows all of the screens that you’ve “floated” and can easily reopen. Float articles, document previews, and tons of other screens to make your WeChat browsing experience even more convenient.
Be sure to download the latest version of WeChat now and try out all of these new improvements!
blog.wechat.com/2019/07/17/wechat-7-0-5-for-ios-and-android/
‘Spiderman: Far From Home’ Features Marvel’s First Openly Trans Actor
Actor Zach Barack chats with The Advocate about his history-making turn in the Marvel Universe.
www.advocate.com/transgender/2019/7/17/spiderman-far-home-features-marvels-first-openly-trans-actor
In Wake of Mass Outrage, Israel’s Education Minister Flips and is Now ‘Strongly Opposed’ to Gay Conversion Therapy
Israel’s new education minister, Rafi Peretz, has done a sudden about face in the wake of worldwide condemnation of his remarks supporting harmful gay conversion therapy.
Peretz wrote a letter to school principals on Tuesday, The Jerusalem Post reports, in which he said of students confused about their sexual orientation: “I always listened intently to their distress and on occasion recommended they consult with professionals. However, I never gave them a cold shoulder or advised them to do conversion therapy to which I am strongly opposed. I know that conversion therapy is illegitimate and severe. This is my unambiguous position.”
Last week, in an interview with Israel‘s Channel 12, Peretz, endorsed harmful gay conversion therapy for minors. Following the interview’s broadcast, hundreds of protesters in Tel Aviv called on Peretz to resign.
Said Peretz when asked whether it’s possible to “convert” people who believe they’re gay: “I think it is possible. I have to tell you that I have a very deep understanding of this kind of education and I have done this.”
Asked what he would say to a student who said they thought they might be gay, Peretz replied: “First of all I’d hug him. I’d say very warm things. I’d say to him ‘let’s think, let’s learn, let’s contemplate.’ The objective is that he first of all will understand himself better. And then he will decide. I give him the facts and at this point I am leaving you and now you decide.”
The post In Wake of Mass Outrage, Israel’s Education Minister Flips and is Now ‘Strongly Opposed’ to Gay Conversion Therapy appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.
Hollywood Exec Alana Mayo Is Changing Film From the Inside
Mayo, head of production for Michael B. Jordan’s company and Lena Waithe’s fiancée, stops by the LGBTQ&A podcast to discuss how Hollywood is correcting itself.
www.advocate.com/film/2019/7/17/hollywood-exec-alana-mayo-changing-film-inside
John Paul Stevens Leaves Legacy of LGBTQ Rights Advocacy
Stevens, who died Tuesday, was a reliable champion of LGBTQ equality on the Supreme Court.
www.advocate.com/politics/2019/7/17/john-paul-stevens-leaves-legacy-lgbtq-rights-advocacy
You must be 18 years old or older to chat
