Undocumented, Queer, and Staying Right Here

Mo Rodriguez Cruz is one of 27 DACA recipients sharing their stories in an amicus brief submitted to the Supreme Court. 

www.advocate.com/commentary/2019/10/11/undocumented-queer-and-staying-right-here

Chris Cuomo apologizes for joking about pronouns at Democratic debate

CNN host Chris Cuomo swiftly apologized after attempting to crack a poorly-judged joke about pronouns at last night’s LGBTQ-themed Democratic Presidential nominee town hall event in Los Angeles.

It was the first time an LGBTQ-themed Presidential Q&A such as this was screened live to TV.

When Cuomo introduced Senator Kamala Harris to the stage, Harris told the audience her pronouns: “My pronouns are she/her/hers.”

Cuomo replied, “Mine too.”

Cue awkward silence. After a moment, Harris simply replied: “Alright.”

Among the first to call him out on the comment was the LGBTQ advocacy group, GLAAD.

“Kamala Harris declared her pronouns on such a major stage and she should be applauded but instead it was so disappointing for Chris Cuomo to mock it in that moment.”

A few hours later, Cuomo took to Twitter to apologize.

“When Sen. Harris said her pronouns were she her and her’s, I said mine too. I should not have. I apologize. I am an ally of the LGBTQ community, and I am sorry because I am committed to helping us achieve equality. Thank you for watching our townhall.”

The tweet has prompted almost 6k comments at the time of writing. Some welcomed the apology; others said he shouldn’t have apologized, and others were still upset he’d said the comment in the first place.

The gaff risked overshadowing the post-debate analysis. Nine of the current candidates took part in the debate. Bernie Saunders couldn’t attend as he is still recuperating at home following his heart attack.

Related: Bee lands on Pete Buttigieg and his – and husband’s – response is perfect

Highlights included Mayor Pete Buttigieg – the first Democratic presidential nominee who is openly gay – blasting the ban on gay men donating blood.

“My blood is not welcome in this country and it’s not based on science,” Buttigieg said. “It’s based on prejudice.”

He also recalled how he feared dying while in the military in Afghanistan while still in the closet, having never known what it was like to fall in love with another man and marry.

Buttigieg and Senators Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris pledged their support for the Equality Act and making PrEP affordable to all who want it.

Several said they’d introduce specific posts to help push for equality, such as Harris stating she’d create a new White House Position: chief advocate for LGBTQ+ Affairs.

Related: Jonathan Van Ness says the cost of HIV meds led to supporting Elizabeth Warren

Frontrunner Joe Biden, who has been criticized for some of his past voting records against equality, went to lengths to emphasize how he has changed over the years (he supported same-sex marriage before President Obama publicly did so).

He said that if elected, he would “curtail foreign assistance to countries” that curb LGBTQ rights.

Some were asked religious-fuelled homophobia, with Beto O’Rourke saying religious institutions should lose their tax-exempt status if they discriminate: “There can be no reward, no benefit, no tax break for anyone or any institution, any organization in America, that denies the full human rights and the full civil rights of every single one of us.”

Cory Booker agreed but was less unequivocal, saying instead, “There have to be consequences for discrimination.” Booker, like Buttigieg, voiced support for lifting the blood ban

Other subjects talked about included bans on conversion therapy, mental health and suicide, trans rights and anti-LGBTQ hate crimes.

www.queerty.com/chris-cuomo-apologizes-joking-pronouns-democratic-debate-20191011?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

LGBTQ Forum: Trans Kids’ Rights, Evils of Conversion Therapy, and More

At the CNN/HRC Town Hall with nine Democratic presidential hopefuls, there was the expected supportive rhetoric but also a few surprises. 

www.advocate.com/election/2019/10/10/lgbtq-forum-trans-kids-rights-evils-conversion-therapy-and-more

Harry Styles gets stripped and sweaty with men and women in new video

Harry Styles fans are in ecstasy today after the singer dropped his first new material in two years. “Lights Up” hit streaming services at midnight, and was followed a few hours later by his new video.

In it, Styles is captured topless and sweaty, showing off his recent tattoo work, and dancing very intimately with a variety of good looking people of all genders.

Lyrically, Styles sings about people discovering their identity: “Lights up and they know who you are, know who you are, do you know who you are?”

He encourages people to, “Shine, step into the light,” saying, “It’s so bright sometimes, I’m not ever going back.”

Styles’ sexuality has long been speculated over, and some fans are reading much into the fact the new song and video have been released on National Coming Out Day (October, 11).

Is Styles trying to tell us something? Or is he just gifting a song about acceptance and being your true self to his fans? Or is it all just a coincidence and people should just, well – to quote Taylor Swift – calm down?

Related: Harry Styles finally sets the record straight on all that bisexual stuff

In 2017, the former One Direction star told the Sun he didn’t like labeling himself, saying, “It’s weird for me. Everyone should just be who they want to be.”

In 2018, speculation around his sexuality intensified when he released the song “Medicine”, with lyrics about “messing around” with “boys and girls.” He also took to waving rainbow flags at concerts and told one audience, “We’re all a little bit gay, aren’t we?”

Last month, in an interview with Rolling Stone, he still refused to label himself but appeared to imply he was an ally and wanted to show support to all his fans, wherever they may lie on the spectrum of sexuality and gender identity.

“I want to make people feel comfortable being whatever they want to be,” he said. “Maybe at a show you can have a moment of knowing that you’re not alone.

“I can’t claim that I know what it’s like, because I don’t. So I’m not trying to say, ‘I understand what it’s like.’ I’m just trying to make people feel included and seen.”

“It’s not about me trying to champion the cause because I’m not the person to do that. It’s just about not ignoring it, I guess.

“Everyone in that room is on the same page and everyone knows what I stand for. I’m not saying I understand how it feels. I’m just trying to say, ‘I see you.’”

Related: Louis Tomlinson calls renewed Harry Styles gay sex rumors “unprovoked venom”

Either way, most fans are just happy the singer’s back with new material, with his copious flesh flaunting in the video an added bonus.

www.queerty.com/harry-styles-gets-stripped-sweaty-men-women-new-video-20191011?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29