‘LGBT-FREE ZONE’ stickers for businesses will be distributed in Poland

www.queerty.com/lgbt-free-zone-stickers-businesses-will-distributed-poland-20190719?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Morehouse College Places Administrator on Leave After Students Accuse Him of Sexual Assault in Viral Videos: WATCH

Morehouse College Assistant Director of Student Services Demarcus K. Crews was placed on administrative leave after students posted videos to social media this week accusing the administrator of sexually assaulting them. Morehouse is an historically black, all-male college in Atlanta.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports: “The student said the incidents included verbal sexual advancements and touching, and said he immediately notified college officials about the situation. ‘It got to the point where I got into a bad depression,’ the young man, who did not identify himself, said in one two-minute video watched more than 91,000 times by Wednesday afternoon.”

Morehouse released a statement: “Morehouse College is investigating allegations of sexual misconduct made by students on social media. The employee mentioned in the complaints has been placed on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Maintaining a safe and secure campus for students, faculty, staff, and visitors is a priority at Morehouse College. We will take appropriate and immediate action against anyone involved in compromising the safety of out community. We have demonstrated that in our urgent response to these allegations. Our support goes out to anyone who feels that they are a victim of sexual misconduct. Our Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedures provide for disciplinary action including dismissal, if any student, faculty, or staff member engages in inappropriate behavior. Incidents can be reported by calling our hotline 888-299-9540.”

The post Morehouse College Places Administrator on Leave After Students Accuse Him of Sexual Assault in Viral Videos: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

www.towleroad.com/2019/07/morehouse-college-sexual-assault/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+towleroad%2Ffeed+%28Towleroad+Gay+News+%29

Mental Health at the Intersections

Post submitted by George Johnson, writer and activist

Mental health is still a taboo topic across Black communities. Although many of us are now starting to break that cycle, it is still very much one of those things we don’t talk about enough, nor do we have enough resources to make informed decisions about how to even start. For centuries, we have found solace in the church, communal spaces and each other. However, it is important that we invest time in the practice of mental health in professional spaces where we can vocalize our issues in an objective safe space.

Many of us live at the intersections of race, gender and sexuality. These layers of marginalization create a multitude of oppression that requires nuance in discussing and processing our normal day-to-day lives. It is one thing to discuss being a man or queer or Black separately. It is something else when you are the embodiment of all three — like I am — and you face additional pressures from society around conforming in both white and Black, cis-het and queer spaces alike.

I face racism and anti-Blackness on a daily basis, both intersected with homophobia, which creates a dynamic that can be dangerous to my mental health. I don’t enter a room as just one thing. It is my intersections that make me different from the societal “norm,” and it is these differences that control my interactions, my thoughts and how I am allowed to show up in the world. And these are all things that are detrimental to my mental health.

I don’t just get to be without thinking about safety in all spaces I enter. My Blackness is inherently queer and can be attacked at any time.

For those reasons, I am a mental health advocate and a firm believer in the value of seeking mental health care. For me, practices of self-care are important in making it through the day. It’s about the ability to speak with someone about who I am without judgement, while also learning ways to process my “normal.” This has helped in healing old trauma while setting boundaries and breaking down the conditions I placed on myself that used to block me.

I often speak about the intricacies of living at the intersections because they all play a role in maintaining good mental health. Understanding how we are seen in the world, how we see ourselves and what to do when we struggle with both were my first steps to having the courage to address old wounds and start the path toward healing. I’ll be speaking more about this during a panel discussion at HRC that will be streamed live on HRC’s Facebook page on July 31.

For more information about HRC’s 2019 Minority Mental Health Month event and to RSVP, click here.

www.hrc.org/blog/mental-health-at-the-intersections?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

AOC Confronts Head of Homeland Security on ‘Rape Memes’ About Her

She suggests in a Congressional hearing that Homeland Security has a dehumanizing culture that is permeating the federal agency.

www.advocate.com/politics/2019/7/19/aoc-confronts-head-homeland-security-rape-memes-about-her

Patti LuPone slammed for cracking homophobic joke and peddling Lindsay Graham gay rumors

If there’s one thing Broadway legend Patti LuPone is not it’s a homophobe. She’s been an LGBTQ ally since the very beginning and we’re proud to have her in our corner.

That said, even allies mess up sometimes.

Yesterday, the two-time Tony and Grammy award winner took to Twitter to express her disgust with Sen. Lindsey Graham after he declined to call Donald Trump racist over the whole “go back to where you came from” controversy.

“Lindsey Graham, you are a disgrace,” LuPone tweeted. “On a personal note, why don’t you just bite the bullet and come out. You might just come to your senses.”

Lindsey Graham you are a disgrace. On a personal note, why don’t you just bite the bullet and come out. You might just come to your senses.

— Patti LuPone (@PattiLuPone) July 18, 2019

Now, we totally get it. Lindsey Graham is not a good guy and certainly no friend to the LGBTQ community. Not only did he oppose the repeal of DADT and gay-inclusive immigration reform, but he opposes gay marriage, calling it a “road to polygamy.”

Related: Is it OK for liberals to crack misogynistic gay jokes at Lindsey Graham’s expense?

That said, peddling gay rumors is not a productive way of getting one’s point across, and outing people is never OK. Not to mention, the whole “Lindsay Graham is gay!” joke is so passé. And, anyway, his sexuality has absolutely nothing to do with Donald Trump’s racist remarks.

Needless to say, people were not pleased with Ms. LuPone’s wisecrack.

come on, Patti

— Hale (@halemcsharry) July 18, 2019

Wow! Patti LuPone is homophobic! Who knew?

— Kevin (@razorchild63) July 18, 2019

The double standards at play here. Imagine a conservative tweeting this at Anderson Cooper. It would be national news.

— Dave (@SpannerDave) July 18, 2019

Don’t use us as a weapon, Patti.

— Tryx?? (@Tryxt3rocks) July 19, 2019

Spouting homophobia to own the conservatives

— TheoryCraft (@Taobender) July 18, 2019

I was a fan. Saw you in concert years ago in New Orleans and then again a few years back at Symphony Hall in Atlanta. Shame on you!

— Pink Elephant (@PinkElephantBoy) July 19, 2019

I fail to see how Lindsey’s sexual behavior is any of your business.

— Steph (@steph93065) July 18, 2019

Oh Patti this ain’t it

— Peter Tingle (@heyitsurban) July 18, 2019

So woke that homophobia is okay just because it’s directed at someone on the right

— Wes (@wesman0615) July 18, 2019

Ms. Lupone, I teach a high school theatre class and want my students to admire your work. Please don’t ruin it for me

— Rachelle Thompson (@rwtopaz5) July 19, 2019

LuPone is yet to address the backlash and the tweet remains up on her Twitter page. We believe this was just a slip up and she’ll make it right.

Related: People are so over Chelsea Handler’s gay jokes about Lindsey Graham

www.queerty.com/patti-lupone-slammed-cracking-homophobic-joke-peddling-lindsay-graham-gay-rumors-20190719?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Patti LuPone: ‘Lindsey Graham, Why Don’t You Just Bite the Bullet and Come Out’

Patti Lupone is is causing a stir on Twitter for a tweet speculating about Senator Lindsey Graham’s sexual orientation.

Tweeted LuPone: “Lindsey Graham you are a disgrace. On a personal note, why don’t you just bite the bullet and come out. You might just come to your senses.”

RELATED: Lindsey Graham: ‘To the Extent That It Matters, I’m Not Gay’ — WATCH

LuPone is getting a broad swath of reaction to her advice.

The post Patti LuPone: ‘Lindsey Graham, Why Don’t You Just Bite the Bullet and Come Out’ appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

www.towleroad.com/2019/07/patti-lupone-lindsey-graham/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+towleroad%2Ffeed+%28Towleroad+Gay+News+%29

In the Face of Trump’s Divisive Comments, We Remain United Against Hate

On Sunday, Trump tweeted that four congresswomen of color (Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY; Ilhan Omar, D-MN.); Ayanna Pressley (D-MA); and Rashida Tlaib, (D-MI)) should “go back” to where they came from.

For many immigrants, children of immigrants, refugees and children of refugees, Trump’s callous comments unearth our own personal journey and experiences as Americans. Many of us are all too familiar with the line “go back to your country,” a hateful and xenophobic catchphrase throughout American history.

I still painfully remember my own experiences with being told that I’m not American enough.

“You should speak English. This is America. If you want to speak your language, you should go back to your country.”

“Why don’t you change your name to something more American?”

“If you have so much to say and criticize about this country, maybe you should go back to your own country?”

I’m shocked, confused and saddened because the U.S. has been and always will be my home. Many have made sacrifices on our journey to the U.S. And here, we tirelessly fight to ensure our families and communities are afforded the best opportunities to succeed.

I believe that it’s possible to love this country and acknowledge that there is still work to do for it to become a place where everyone can succeed and thrive. I criticize my country because I love it and I believe that it can be better — and the president’s comments are anything but American.

At the end of the day, we must call what Donald Trump’s comments and actions are: racist and un-American.

His administration continuously attacks the rights of immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees — many of whom are LGBTQ and people of color.

LGBTQ people who are fleeing violence in their home countries have been denied entry or been made to wait in Mexico or U.S. detention facilities. Horrifically, children and adults are mistreated and dying — including at least two transgender asylum seekers — as a result of unlivable conditions in detention centers created by the Trump-Pence administration.

And now, Trump’s unconscionable comment of “go back to your country” aims to divide us further.

For decades, immigrants and refugees have been a part of the beautiful fabric of this country, and throughout history immigrants have enriched the foundation and culture of the U.S. with our resilient narratives, colorful traditions and innovative contributions.

Yet, Trump is blind to the reality that our nation’s  is what makes us stronger and more connected. Our country has always represented more than the person who sits in the Oval Office. It represents the sacrifices, the dreams, hopes and opportunities of those who were born here and those who were not.

This is my country. This is my home, and it is your home, too. We aren’t going anywhere, not now, not ever.

www.hrc.org/blog/in-the-face-of-trumps-divisive-comments-we-remain-united-against-hate?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed