Comic Michael Henry makes a serious short film that really hits home

YouTuber Michael Henry is known for his short, comic videos which typically and humorously explore facets of gay life.

However, not all aspects of life can be treated in the same way. His latest YouTube upload is an 11-minute short movie about sexual consent that he says he and his friends have been working on for months.

Related: Michael Henry knows the secret to masc/femme dynamics in relationships

In the movie, entitled Adjacent, Michael and his friends are shown getting ready for a typical night out. They’re drinking and bitching with one another, talking about sex and men and how badly they’d like to get laid.

If you don’t want any spoilers, don’t read any further and just watch the hard-hitting movie below. However, as Michael warns in the accompanying YouTube caption: “This video does deal with some subject matter that will be considered extra sensitive and/or triggering to some.”

Michael and his two friends go to a club. They continue drinking and eyeing up other guys. Michael picks up a handsome stranger and goes back to his apartment for sex. Although Michael says he’s only looking to perform oral sex on his pickup, the man has other ideas.

What happens makes for uncomfortable viewing. It’s perhaps even all the more shocking because we’ve grown to know Michael’s funny, wise-cracking and sweet persona through his other videos, and to watch someone we’ve grown to love being violated is all the more shocking.

Related: Michael Henry and Matt Wilkas break down ‘the gay hello’ in hilarious video

Unfortunately, the scenario is not far-fetched and is something many gay men may identify with.

Indeed, many of those commentating on the video say it’s very identifiable.

“How many of us have experienced something like this before? I know I have…Michael. This may be a far cry from your usual videos, but all the same, very well done. I hope some people can learn from this,” commented one.

Another simply said, “Thank you for bringing awareness to such an important issue!”

If you’ve been the victim of sexual assault and want to talk to someone, contact RAINN in the US. 800.656.HOPE (4673)

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Billy Porter Responds to Sesame Street Haters: ‘Stay Out of My Bedroom’

Pose star Billy Porter has broken his silence concerning hateful anti-LGBT attacks over his upcoming appearance on Sesame Street.

“If you don’t like it, don’t watch it,” Porter told Page Six. “Like, what about me singing with a penguin has anything to do with what I’m doing in my bedroom?

“The really interesting thing for me is that that’s what it’s all about when it comes to LGBTQ people — the first thing everyone wants to talk about is how we having sex,” Porter added. “Stay out of my bedroom and you will be fine — that is none of your business.”

Porter’s scheduled appearance led to a petition calling for Sesame Street to drop the episode, as well as threats from a Republican lawmaker in Arkansas to cut funding for the state’s PBS affiliate.

Earlier this week, Porter delivered Logo’s LGBTQ State of Our Union address. Watch it below.

The post Billy Porter Responds to Sesame Street Haters: ‘Stay Out of My Bedroom’ appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Billy Porter Responds to Sesame Street Haters: ‘Stay Out of My Bedroom’

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: February 6, 2020

TODAY — VIRGINIA POISED TO PASS LONG-DELAYED, CRITICAL PROTECTIONS FOR LGBTQ VIRGINIANS: Today at 10:45 a.m. ET at the Virginia State Capitol, elected officials and advocates will hold a press conference ahead of the floor votes on the Virginia Values Act, which will grant non-discrimination protections to Virginians on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability and status as a veteran. For more information, contact [email protected].

• When passed, Virginia will be the first state in the South to have non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people, the first state in over a decade to add sexual orientation and gender identity to existing non-discrimination law and the first state since 1993 to add a prohibition on discrimination in public accommodations (protecting all Virginians) where none existed before.
• In August, HRC endorsed 27 candidates and committed to invest over $250,000 to elect pro-equality candidates across Virginia. The endorsements marked the beginning of HRC’s largest-ever field, digital and direct mail program in the state.

SENATE MAJORITY FAILED AMERICAN PEOPLE BY ACQUITTING DONALD TRUMP AND VOTERS MUST ACT NOW: “This is a sad day for our country. It is crystal clear that Donald Trump abused his power to subvert the next election, worked to cover it up, and lied about his motives and actions. Senators who have doubts about the evidence refused to seek the truth, but instead were this President’s accomplices in the cover up. This is profoundly troubling and a blow to the rule of law,” HRC President Alphonso David (@AlphonsoDavid) said. More from HRC.

DOZENS OF CORPORATIONS AND SMALL BUSINESSES SIGN LETTER OPPOSING DISCRIMINATION IN TENNESSEE: The open letter, signed by 35 corporations and 107 small businesses, opposes discrimination against LGBTQ Tennesseans and calls on lawmakers to not pursue any further harmful bills this legislative session. This letter was organized by the Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce with support from Freedom for All Americans, HRC and GLAAD. More from HRC and CNBC.

BREAKING: 35 corporations & 107 small businesses are calling on Tennessee lawmakers to stop attacking LGBTQ people through harmful legislation. Tennesseans and businesses agree — bills that target LGBTQ people are bad for Tennessee and its economy. #tnleg t.co/dkEcseKtgz

— Alphonso David (@AlphonsoDavid) February 5, 2020

THANKFUL THURSDAY — KRISTIN CHENOWETH EXPLAINS HOW HER FAITH AND LGBTQ ALLYSHIP GO HAND-IN-HAND: Chenoweth (@KChenoweth) was honored with the Ally for Equality Award at HRC’s Greater New York Gala last weekend. More from HuffPost and The Cut.

JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF HATE CRIMES ACT INTRODUCED WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT: HRC has joined other LGBTQ and civil rights groups in supporting the bill. More from Los Angeles Blade.

MEET SOUTH DAKOTA’S FRED DEUTSCH, THE ANTI-LGBTQ EXTREMIST PUSHING TO LEGISLATE HARM AGAINST TRANS KIDS: The legislation, which has passed the South Dakota House of Representatives, bars transgender youth and their parents from making decisions about their medical care, and allows the state to arrest and imprison doctors providing care for trans and gender non-conforming youth. More from HRC.

South Dakota is pushing legislation that will do incomprehensible harm to trans kids.

See what the SD Speaker of the House Haugaard said about this vulnerable community. #SDLeg #HB1057 pic.twitter.com/58QjhfIPur

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 5, 2020

CALIFORNIA GOV GRANTS POSTHUMOUS PARDON TO BAYARD RUSTIN: Rustin, the organizer of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, was openly gay and in 1953 was arrested under a discriminatory “morals charge”. He spent nearly two months in jail. While he was a key strategist who greatly influenced Martin Luther King Jr., Rustin is too often left out of civil rights history. More from Los Angeles Times.

MEET MOLLY PINTA, ONE OF HRC’S 2020 CLASS OF YOUTH AMBASSADORS: Pinta, who founded the LGBTQ Pride festival in her Chicago suburb, is just one of the incredible advocates joining HRC’s new class of youth ambassadors. More from Chicago Tribune.

STATE COLLEGE, PA. TO HOST ITS FIRST-EVER LGBTQ PRIDE PARADE: The city recently earned a score of 100 on HRC’s Municipal Equality Index. More from Centre Daily Times.

GET CULTURED – Entertainment, arts and sports news!

ACTOR JAMEELA JAMIL COMES OUT AS QUEER ON TWITTER: “I added a rainbow to my name when I felt ready a few years ago, as it’s not easy within the south Asian community to be accepted, and I always answered honestly if ever straight-up asked about it on Twitter,” she (@jameelajamil) wrote in a note posted to Twitter. “It’s also scary as an actor to openly admit your sexuality, especially when you’re already a brown female in your thirties.”

• Find support, seek out solidarity and be uniquely you with HRC’s API Coming Out Guide.

READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break! 

Mary Emily O’Hara (@MaryEmilyOHara) writes in AdWeek about how the trans flag got added to the list of emojis

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!

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Scottish politician resigns after bombarding 16-year-old boy with texts

A leading politician in Scotland has resigned his position in the country’s government. He was the Finance Secretary.

Derek Mackay – tipped as a potential future leader of the SNP (Scottish National Party) – was due to deliver his high-profile budget report today. However, just after midnight, the Scottish Sun published dozens of text messages Mackay, 42, is alleged to have sent a 16-year-old boy.

In the messages, Mackay offers to take the boy out to dinner and a rugby match. The newspaper says he sent over 250 messages via Instagram and Facebook after contacting the boy out of the blue last August. It says he sent several messages on Christmas Day.

Related: Gay Politician Stewart McDonald questioned at NYC hotel about sharing bed with partner

In one message, Mackay is alleged to ask the boy: “Are our chats between us?”

The boy replied, “Yeahh.”

Mackay then says, “Cool, to be honest, I think you are really cute.”

This was immediately followed by another message from Mackay reading, “Just as long as you know, but you can delete that message, lol.”

In another message he compliments the boy on his haircut, again calling him, “cute.”

The messaging continued up until early this week. Early on in the exchanges, the boy told Mackay he was 16 and asked him, “not to try anything.”

The youngster says he began to lie to come up with excuses not to meet up with the politician. He told the newspaper he became “grossed out” by the politician’s compliments and decided to tell his mom.

Mackay came out as gay in 2013 after leaving his wife of 12 years. He is the father of two children and lives with his boyfriend near Glasgow.

Related: Whatever happened to Mike Yenni, that Republican lawmaker busted for sexting a teen boy?

On hearing about the story being published, Mackay immediately quit his position as a cabinet minister.

In a statement, he said: “I take full responsibility for my actions. I have behaved foolishly and I am truly sorry. I apologize unreservedly to the individual involved and his family.

“I spoke last night with the first minister and tendered my resignation with immediate effect.

“Serving in government has been a huge privilege and I am sorry to have let colleagues and supporters down.”

The leader of the SNP, and Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, accepted his resignation from her cabinet.

She said in a statement: “Derek has made a significant contribution to government, however he recognizes that his behavior has failed to meet the standards required.”

Although quitting his cabinet position, it is not known yet whether Mackay intends to remain a member of the Scottish Parliament.

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