Trans Murders Are Continuing Into 2020

Anti-LGBTQ attacks have not stopped as we enter a new decade.

www.advocate.com/exclusives/2020/2/20/trans-murders-are-continuing-2020

Michael Bloomberg was eviscerated on stage at last night’s debate. And then came the memes…

Michael Bloomberg was completely eviscerated on stage during last night’s Democratic debate in Nevada.

The 78-year-old multi-billionaire, who just lasted year called trans people “it,” was attacked by pretty much every other candidate, but perhaps the worst of the blows came from Elizabeth Warren who, within the first five minutes of the debate, delivered this one-two-three-four gut punch:

I’d like to talk about who we’re running against: A billionaire who calls women fat broads and horse-faced lesbians. And no, I’m not talking about Donald Trump. I’m talking about Mayor Bloomberg. Democrats are not going to win if we have a nominee who has a history of hiding his tax returns, of harassing women and of supporting racist policies like redlining and stop-and-frisk.”

And, it turns out, she was just getting started.

Throughout the evening, Warren took some major swings at Bloomberg, landing nearly every single one. She accused him of being racist and sexist, took him to task for forcing women to sign non-disclosure agreements then refusing to release them, criticized him not releasing his tax returns, lambasted his non-apology for his discriminatory stop and frisk policy, and called him an “arrogant billionaire” right to his face.

For the most part, Bloomberg stood there wearing a dumbstruck expression on his face, completely speechless and likely second guessing his decision to spend a reported $400 million of his own money to run for president.

Put simply, it was a very bad night for Bloomberg. And then came the memes…

Related: Bloomberg called trans people “it” just last year, video mysteriously vanishes

www.queerty.com/michael-bloomberg-eviscerated-stage-last-nights-debate-came-memes-20200220?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

This Gay Artist’s Powerful Video Tribute to His Straight Best Friend Will Melt Your Heart: WATCH

A gay TikTok user’s powerful tribute to his straight best friend has gone viral, garnering 1.7 million views since it was posted on Twitter on Sunday.

“Straight boys take notes,” Adrian Alvarez wrote above the tribute to his best friend Hector.

Set to the theme song from the 2009 Disney film Up, the tribute features a montage of photos and videos of the pair.

“This is me and hector,” Alvarez writes. “Alot of ppl including our closest friends thought we were dating. But he’s straight [and I’m] gay.”

“He’s my best straight boy-friend,” Alvarez continues. “I want to show how much I appreciate him for his fluid boldness to not giving a F*CK. He wasnt scared to show that [straight] guys can be as if not even more fem. than gays. He broke every straight stereotype.

“His dating life was not the best cuz every girl thought he was gay or dating me,” he writes. “He was harassed and questioned about his sexuality all the time. But he didnt care. [He was on] a quest to make sure that gays felt safe and [in comfort] with their own skin. Hector u mean so much to me. I love you bro.”

Alvarez identifies himself on Instagram as an “artist” and “Starbucks lover” based in New York.

Reactions to the tribute below.

wow the amount of love in the comments is so wonderful thanks everyone for sharing your friends/relationships it’s so nice!

— GAѴI (@Gaaviiii) February 17, 2020

let’s stay positive and open minded and spread this kind of thinking! pay it forward, and better one person at a time

— GAѴI (@Gaaviiii) February 17, 2020

The post This Gay Artist’s Powerful Video Tribute to His Straight Best Friend Will Melt Your Heart: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

This Gay Artist’s Powerful Video Tribute to His Straight Best Friend Will Melt Your Heart: WATCH

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: February 20, 2020

FOR YOUR RADAR — HRC & NEA TO HOST JAZZ AND FRIENDS NATIONAL DAY OF SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY READINGS IN SUPPORT OF TRANS AND GENDER-EXPANSIVE YOUTH: On February 27, thousands of parents, educators, elected officials and allies will join in solidarity with transgender and gender-expansive students by hosting school and community readings of I Am Jazz, a children’s book by transgender teen trailblazer Jazz Jennings, as well as additional titles. The fifth annual Jazz and Friends National Day of School and Community Readings is sponsored by the Welcoming Schools Program at the HRC, and the National Educational Association. More from HRC.

NEW RESOURCE FROM HRC PREVIEWS THE 2020 LEGISLATIVE SESSION: As state legislatures around the country consider legislation that impacts the LGBTQ community, HRC is watching closely to support pro-equality legislation and defeat legislators’ attempts to enshrine discrimination into law. Check out HRC’s 2020 state legislative preview here.

2020 STATEHOUSE ROUNDUP

ANTI-TRANS PROPOSED LEGISLATION IN OHIO ATTEMPTING TO LIMIT ACCESS TO GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE FOR TRANS AND NON-BINARY YOUTH: This proposed legislation, similar to the now-dead bill in South Dakota, is one of at least 20 bills filed in state legislatures across the country attempting to criminalize or severely limit access to gender-affirming care for transgender and non-binary youth. More from Mic.

ADVOCATES IN ALABAMA MOURN THOSE LOST TO HATE CRIMES, RALLY FOR EQUALITY IN THE LAW: More from WSFA.

DC HEARING ON CARE FOR LGBTQ SENIORS AND SENIORS WITH HIV AMENDMENT ACT: Yesterday, there was a hearing in the D.C. Council about the bill to ensure LGBTQ seniors and seniors living with HIV do not have to go back into the closet once they need long-term care. More from Washington Blade.

THANKFUL THURSDAY — DWYANE WADE TALKS TRANS ALLYSHIP ON GOOD MORNING AMERICA: 

“Have an open mind. Go out and research…This conversation is real. Our 12-year-old deals with this. This is her life every day. This is no game to us.”

An incredible interview about being an ally to your trans child between @RobinRoberts & @DwyaneWade.pic.twitter.com/XevxuxpHbf

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 19, 2020

PRO-EQUALITY U.S. REP. ABIGAIL SPANBERGER TO CONVENE TOUR FOCUSED ON CIVIL RIGHTS IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA: More from NBC 12.

PRONOUNS IN EMAIL SIGNATURES AND OTHER WAYS BUSINESSES ARE BECOMING MORE INCLUSIVE TO TRANS AND NON-BINARY WORKERS: Natalie Sherman (@shermannatalie) speaks to HRC Director of Workplace Equality Beck Bailey (@TheBeckBailey) for BBC.

• Another solution for displaying pronouns in college classrooms? Stickers! More from The New York Times.

NEW STUDIES SHOW LGBTQ PEOPLE MAY EXPERIENCE HIGHER RATES OF SKIN CANCER: More from Reuters.

OMAHA TRANSITIONAL LIVING HOME FOR FORMERLY-INCARCERATED BELIEVED TO BE FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND FOR LGBTQ COMMUNITY: More from KETV.

 GET CULTURED – Entertainment, arts and sports news!

BE EXTRA CAREFUL ABOUT MARRIAGE, BELIEVED TO BE BOLLYWOOD’S FIRST ROMCOM FEATURING A SAME-SEX ROMANCE, PREMIERES: More from France 24.

 GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

PROPOSED LEGISLATION IN INDONESIA WOULD REQUIRE LGBTQ COMMUNITY TO “REPORT TO AUTHORITIES FOR REHABILITATION”: This troubling bill mandates dangerous “conversion therapy,” which poses devastating health risks for LGBTQ young people resulting in depression, decreased self-esteem, substance abuse, homelessness and suicidal behavior. More from The Jakarta Post.

TRANS WOMAN IN BARBADOS FILES LEGAL CHALLENGE TO EMPLOYER: Alexa Hoffman’s case claims she was terminated from her job at Court Caribbean Law Practice after she changed her name. More from Erasing 76 Crimes.

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

The Body interviews Emil Wilbekin (@EmilWilbekin), chief content officer of Afropunk.com and the founder of World of Wilbekin and Native Son; KING 5 News profiles a Seattle-based organization uplifting LGBTQ youth of faith

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-february-20-2020?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

WATCH: Woman becomes overnight sensation after singing Gaga song on subway

A British woman has become a viral sensation after appearing to be ambushed by a vlogger on the subway and asked to sing a Lady Gaga song.

The vlogger is Kevin Freshwater. His latest video finds him walking up to members of the public, giving them a line of lyrics, and asking them to sing the rest.

Related: Lady Gaga’s new single “Stupid Love” leaked and people are losing their minds

In the clip, he approaches a woman in a London Underground station and gives her a line. Little Monsters will recognize it as coming from the Gaga song, “Shallow”, from the movie A Star Is Born.

The woman also recognizes it and tentatively sings the next line. When Freshwater remarks that she’s good and urges her to continue, she lets rip with the chorus. Watch below.

The woman concedes that she is a professional singer. Freshwater includes a link to her Instagram on his own Instagram posting. Her name is Charlotte Awbery, she lives in Essex, and going by her Instagram, she performs a lot at weddings and other private functions.

A tweet sharing the video has now had over 1million likes in less than two days and almost a quarter of a million retweets.

Awbery’s Instagram account has shot up from around 5,000 to 143,000 followers.

Related: Lady Gaga surprised an emotional gay fan & comforted him as he talked about his dad’s rejection

On Twitter, the clip has prompted thousands of comments and praise. Some love her voice.

Lady Gaga who? This literally gave me chills

— Shoeb | fan account (@KXTYSHOEB) February 18, 2020

Others noted her style.

Her hair is giving me lifetime movie vibes

— COLD PiZZA (@MariahsMirage) February 18, 2020

You can watch Freshwater’s full video, in which he approaches several members of the public, below.

Queerty has contacted Awbery for further comment.

If you want any more convincing of Awbery’s talent, here’s a 2016 video of her covering Sia’s “Chandelier.”

www.queerty.com/watch-woman-becomes-overnight-sensation-singing-gaga-song-subway-20200220?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29