Doctor cautions men against partaking in bizarre online banana trend

A doctor is warning men to please stop masturbating with banana peels.

The warning comes after the trend emerged on Reddit. According to guys familiar with the practice, the goo from the peel works as a lubricant and produces a similar feeling to receiving oral sex. Or something.

The sensation is purportedly enhanced if you heat the banana up in the microwave first.

One Redditer reports: “I have been doing it for years and it’s great. It’s the closest thing there is to a BJ, trust me I’ve had hundreds of them.”

Just to be super clear: Queerty does not encourage or endorse this behavior. And neither does Dr. Diana Gill of the online prescription service Doctor-4-u.

“You could develop a rash and sores on the penis which can be painful and might lead to infection,” Gill cautions.

In the threat of sores and infections isn’t enough to deter you, Gill says it could also cause an unexpected allergic reaction.

“A person with a banana allergy is more likely to be allergic to other substances such as latex or other fruits and vegetables,” she explains. “So if you’re allergic to latex condoms you may also be allergic to banana skins.”

The banana trend emerged after it was recently revealed men have been putting toothpaste on their penises to last longer in bed, which experts also caution against.

Related: You can’t unsee these two straight guys rolling around shirtless and sharing a banana

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Suspect Admits to Vicious Hate Crime Triggered By Gay Man Putting Arm Around Boyfriend at NY State Fair

A Syracuse man has pleaded guilty to felony hate-crime charges stemming from a brutal attack on a gay couple outside the New York State Fair in August.

Nicholas Ferlenda, 28, is expected to be sentenced to six months in jail, as well as five years of probation and diversity training, after agreeing to the plea bargain on Tuesday.

Ferlenda attacked the couple in the parking lot outside a Breaking Benjamin concert after one of the victims put his arm around the other. The drunken suspect hurled gay slurs and punched one of the victims in the face in an ordeal that lasted as long as 30 minutes, according to prosecutors. Ferlenda followed the men to their car and punched out a window as they attempted to leave.

From Syracuse.com: The two victims tried to escape the situation by walking and driving away, but Ferlenda followed them to keep up his attack, police said. Prosecutor Anthony Mangovski said the “unbelievable” hatred showed by Ferlenda rivaled that of crimes with more serious injuries, like stabbings or shootings. And Ferlenda’s rage was directed at two complete strangers, he said. 

Mangovski told CNYCentral: “This is one of the vilest things we’ve seen. The amount of hate that man exhibited was absurd.”

After the couple reported the incident, police found Ferlenda screaming obscenities and covered in blood due to cuts from the car window. He initially faced 1-3 years in prison on the assault and criminal mischief charges, which were bumped up to felonies under New York’s hate crimes law.

The post Suspect Admits to Vicious Hate Crime Triggered By Gay Man Putting Arm Around Boyfriend at NY State Fair appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Suspect Admits to Vicious Hate Crime Triggered By Gay Man Putting Arm Around Boyfriend at NY State Fair

HRC Endorses Rep. Ben Ray Luján for U.S. Senate

Today, HRC announced its endorsement of Rep. Ben Ray Luján in his bid for the U.S. Senate.

Rep. Luján has been a steadfast ally for the LGBTQ community throughout his time in public service and his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2018, Luján signed on as a co-sponsor and voted in favor of the Equality Act, crucial federal legislation that would finally guarantee explicit, protections for LGBTQ people under our nation’s existing civil rights laws. Luján has demonstrated unprecedented leadership for transgender immigrants by standing up against Trump’s draconian policies. These policies have disproportionately harmed transgender migrants, who have faced violence by being forced to live in facilities that do not provide services consistent with their gender identity.

“Congressman Luján has been one of our community’s strongest advocates in the United States House of Representatives, and we’re proud to stand by his side as he runs for the Senate,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “As a co-sponsor of the Equality Act, Congressman Luján’s demonstrated record of support for LGBTQ people and families stands in stark contrast with his opponents, who have refused to support non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people despite over 73% of New Mexicans supporting those protections. The Human Rights Campaign is committed to mobilizing the nearly 439,000 Equality Voters across New Mexico to send Congressman Luján to the U.S. Senate to continue moving equality forward for all Americans.”

“I am deeply humbled to receive the support of the Human Rights Campaign – a venerable ally in the ongoing fight to achieve equality for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals,” said Congressman Ben Ray Luján. “The Human Rights Campaign was a critical partner during the 2018 cycle as we worked to secure a House Democratic majority that reflected the diversity of our country. When in the U.S. Senate, I will continue to advance legislation like the Equality Act that secures the innate civil rights of all people.”

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-endorses-rep.-ben-ray-lujan-for-u.s.-senate?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Janelle Monáe to Receive HRC Equality Award

The pansexual singer, actor, and activist “has been a guiding force for positive change,” says HRC President Alphonso David.

www.advocate.com/people/2020/1/23/janelle-monae-receive-hrc-equality-award

Adam Lambert launches foundation and wants to abolish the term “coming out”

 

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Adam Lambert yesterday announced the launch of his own “Feel Something Foundation.” Posting the new organization’s logo to Instagram, a brief message said: “FEEL SOMETHING FOUNDATION! Mission: to support LGBTQ+ organizations that are moving the needle for communities of all ages and backgrounds.”

Billboard reports that Lambert’s non-profit will work with charities that are helping to improve LGBTQ life in a number of areas, including education, homelessness and suicide prevention.

According to a statement from Lambert, the Foundation, which he found in 2019, also wants to “abolish ‘coming out’ as a term used to define someone simply being themselves.” No further details about this were forthcoming at the time of writing.

Related: Adam Lambert introduces his new boyfriend and he’s a total cutie

Lambert decided to form the philanthropic foundation following his own global travels, meeting many other members of the LGBTQ community, hearing their stories and witnessing first-hand the difficulties so many continue to face.

“Having spent time throughout his career engaging in LGBTQ+ activism and as a member of the community himself, the foundation sees Adam’s philanthropy institutionalized into an organization with the aim to truly make a difference,” says the launch statement.

The Feel Something’s first fundraiser will be an auction of some of Lambert’s clothing, due to take place over the next few weeks.

Related: Adam Lambert opens up about dealing with gay music execs and their internalized homophobia

Lambert shot to fame as a contestant on the eighth season of American Idol in 2009. He has enjoyed solo success and become the touring frontman for Queen. He, Brian May and Roger Taylor are currently on the Asian leg of their Rhapsody tour.

Lambert fans will know that Feel Something was the title of a track he released last year.

www.queerty.com/adam-lambert-launches-foundation-wants-abolish-term-coming-20200123?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

China Takes Extreme Measures as Deadly Coronavirus Spreads: VIDEO

China has locked down three cities with a combined population of 20 million in an unprecedented effort to contain the deadly coronavirus. As of Thursday, the virus had killed 17 people and infected more than 634.

The Wall Street Journal reports: On Thursday, authorities in Huanggang—a city of 7.5 million people—said they wouldn’t let long-distance trains and buses run from the urban center and would shut its public transportation system in the lockdown zone, effective midnight Friday local time. Ezhou, another neighboring city with just over a million residents, said it would enact similar restrictions, bringing the total number of cities with travel restrictions to three. Huanggang is about 35 miles east of Wuhan, a city of 11 million and a major hub for travel, where the new pneumonia-causing coronavirus originated. Wuhan just hours earlier halted outbound trains and flights and shut down its public-transportation system.

The Chinese capital of Beijing has also canceled all large-scale Chinese New Year celebrations.

More from the Associated Press: Police, SWAT teams and paramilitary troops guarded Wuhan’s train station, where metal barriers blocked the entrances at 10 a.m. sharp. Only travelers holding tickets for the last trains were allowed to enter, with those booked for later trains being turned away. … Health authorities were taking extraordinary measures to prevent additional person-to-person transmissions, placing those suspected to be infected in plastic tubes and wheeled boxes where air passed through filters. … WHO plans another meeting of scientific experts Thursday on whether to recommend declaring the outbreak a global health emergency, which it defines as an “extraordinary event” that constitutes a risk to other countries and requires a coordinated international response.

The post China Takes Extreme Measures as Deadly Coronavirus Spreads: VIDEO appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

China Takes Extreme Measures as Deadly Coronavirus Spreads: VIDEO

HRC to Honor Genre Bending Artist Janelle Monáe with the HRC Equality Award at the 2020 LA Dinner

Today, HRC announced that award-winning singer, actor, producer, performer, and activist Janelle Monáe will be honored with the HRC Equality Award at the 2020 HRC Los Angeles Dinner on Saturday, March 28 at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown. 

“A highly celebrated and influential artist, Janelle Monáe is an icon who has used her global platform to share a message of celebrating authenticity and embracing all of who we are,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “Through her activism on initiatives that work to inspire civic engagement and advance gender justice, Janelle has been a guiding force for positive change. We are incredibly excited to honor Janelle Monáe with the HRC Equality Award at the 2020 Los Angeles Dinner.”

As a “queer Black woman in America,” Janelle Monáe has been a powerful voice on the importance of LGBTQ visibility and representation. In releasing her 2018 album “Dirty Computer”, which was nominated for two Grammy awards, she dedicated the album to young LGBTQ people struggling to live their authentic selves. “I want young girls, young boys, nonbinary, gay, straight, queer people who are having a hard time dealing with their sexuality, dealing with feeling ostracized or bullied for just being their unique selves, to know that I see you,” Monáe told Rolling Stone.   

An 8-time Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, producer, performer, activist, actor and fashion icon, Janelle Monáe is one of the most celebrated artists of our time and is known worldwide for her inimitable style and visionary sound. This spring Monáe will star in her first leading role in the upcoming social thriller Antebellum. She will also lead her first television series as “Jackie” in season 2 of Amazon’s critically acclaimed series from Sam Esmail, Homecoming.  Later this year, Monáe will appear in upcoming Gloria Steinem biopic The Glorias: A Life on the Road, in which she plays Dorothy Pitman Hughes. She most recently appeared in Kasi Lemmon’s acclaimed film Harriet, for which she has been nominated for an NAACP Image Award. Her most recent album “Dirty Computer” was nominated for two Grammy awards in the categories of “Album of the Year” and “Best Music Video.” Monáe is currently a co-chair for When We All Vote, an organization dedicated to increase participation in every election and close the race and age gap by changing the culture around voting, and leads the Fem the Future initiative with her artist collective Wondaland, the initiative empowers female media creatives and filmmakers and furthers the conversation about opportunity for all those who identify as women within arts, music, and film.

Set to take place at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown, the 2020 HRC Los Angeles Dinner, the first since HRC opened its Los Angeles office, brings together HRC’s most active members and supporters in the greater Los Angeles area to raise crucial funds in the fight for LGBTQ equality. Tickets and further information are available at www.hrcladinner.com/

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