Ben Affleck opens up about his Grindr usage

Let it be known: Ben Affleck is not a Grindr user.

The ubiquitous gay dating app would like to change that, however.

In an interview with Diane Sawyer last week, the Oscar-winning director and actor opened up to ABC News about his dating life, or lack thereof.

Specifically, he said he isn’t on any of the apps and went on to list a series of real and made-up applications.

Related: Ben Affleck in ’97: “A man kissing another man is the greatest acting challenge”

“I’m on no dating apps. I’m not on Tinder, Grindr, Bumble, Humble — I am not on any of them. I don’t have judgement for people who are, great.”

It was a tad surprising to hear Affleck bring up Grindr in an interview unprompted, but hey — these are modern times we’re living in.

The team at Grindr couldn’t resist the opportunity to reply, tweeting to Affleck: “Don’t knock it till you try it”:

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Tulsi Gabbard Ignores HRC Questionnaire on LGBTQ Issues

Tulsi Gabbard has apparently chosen to ignore a questionnaire on LGBTQ issues submitted to Democratic presidential candidates by the Human Rights Campaign.

Wrote HRC on a landing page for the responses: “The Human Rights Campaign sent our questionnaire to all Democratic presidential candidates earlier this year. Unfortunately, we did not receive responses from Tulsi Gabbard ahead of publication. Should she send a response, we will update the site accordingly. Deval Patrick and Andrew Yang sent responses but are not included because they have since suspended their campaigns.”

The lack of a response is notable because of Gabbard’s involvement with anti-LGBTQ groups in the past.

Gabbard released a video in January 2019 apologizing for her past views and statements about LGBTQ people, and work for anti-gay groups.

That month, a CNN investigation revealed Gabbard’s close ties with the anti-gay groups run by her father, when she was in her late teens: ‘Gabbard’s past positions can be traced back to the early 2000s, when she first sought public office.During her run for state legislature in 2002, Gabbard told the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, “Working with my father, Mike Gabbard, and others to pass a constitutional amendment to protect traditional marriage, I learned that real leaders are willing to make personal sacrifices for the common good. I will bring that attitude of public service to the legislature.” The quote, which CNN’s KFile found during a review of Gabbard’s early career, shows how closely she aligned herself with her father’s mission at the time. Gabbard’s father ran The Alliance for Traditional Marriage, a political action committee aimed at opposing pro-gay lawmakers and legislation that organized and spent more than $100,000 to pass an amendment in 1998 that gave the Hawaii state legislature power to “reserve marriage to opposite-sex couples.” The amendment to the state’s constitution passed.’

CNN added, of Mike Gabbard: ‘Gabbard’s father Mike was a prominent anti-gay activist in Hawaii. He was also the director of Stop Promoting Homosexuality and also served on the steering committees of the National Campaign to Protect Marriage and the Hawaii-based coalition, Save Traditional Marriage. He also once hosted an anti-gay radio show, Let’s Talk Straight Hawaii. The Alliance for Traditional Marriage called homosexuality “unhealthy, abnormal behavior that should not be promoted or accepted in society.”’

In 2013, Gabbard signed an amicus brief supporting Edie Windsor’s battle to defeat the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

In March 2019, Gabbard was asked by an audience member at a CNN town hall to explain her past views opposing gay rights, and her support of gay conversion therapy.

Gabbard said she never “personally never supported any kind of conversion therapy. I never advocated for conversion therapy. And frankly, I didn’t even know what conversion therapy was until just the last few years.”

“I was raised in a very socially conservative home,” she added. “My father is Catholic. He was a leading voice against gay marriage in Hawaii during that time. Again, I was very young, but these are the values and beliefs that I grew up around.”

Gabbard said that deploying to Middle East changed her views on gay rights because she “saw firsthand the negative impact of a government attempting to act as a moral arbiter for their people…It caused me to confront that contradiction…but also how that contradicted some of the values and beliefs that I grew up with.”

She added: “I also served with gay and lesbian and trans service members and we became very good friends and knew in the most deep and visceral way that I would give my life for any one of them, and that they would do the same for me. Race or religion or orientation — these were things that didn’t matter, because we were focused on our mission of serving.”

The post Tulsi Gabbard Ignores HRC Questionnaire on LGBTQ Issues appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Tulsi Gabbard Ignores HRC Questionnaire on LGBTQ Issues

‘Love, Simon’ sequel set to debut on TV in June for Pride Month

A Love, Simon spin-off will be coming to the small screen this June. As we reported on Queerty last November, the groundbreaking, 2018 Disney movie, which featured a gay lead character, has spawned a TV spin-off.

It was first thought the show, which will comprise of ten, half-hour episodes, would debut on the new Disney+ streaming service. However, according to Deadline, the show – which is now titled Love, Victor – will be coming to Hulu (which was bought by Disney last year).

Related: ‘Love, Simon’ spin-off series is coming to a TV near you

The series will begin airing in June, which happens to be LGBTQ Pride Month.

Love, Victor has been made by 20th Century Fox TV with This Is Us executive producers/co-showrunners Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger. The two creatives adapated the screenplay for Love, Simon. According to a report last year in Hollywood Reporter, Nick Robinson, who played Simon in the feature film, will executive-produce and narrate the show.

The original Love, Simon was based on Becky Albertalli’s young adult novel, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. Telling the story of a closeted gay teen who lives in an Atlanta suburb, it proved a box office hit, taking $66million worldwide over a production budget of $17million.

The TV show will focus on a new arrival at Creekwood High School (the same school in the movie). Like Simon before him, Victor (played by Michael Cimino), is on a journey of self-discovery and struggling with his sexual orientation.

Before this, Cimino’s most high-profile role was in last year’s horror movie, Annabelle Comes Home.

Deadline says Disney’s decision to place the show on Hulu follows a recent trend by the entertainment giant as it establishes an identity for the recently launched Disney+ streaming service. It appears to be keeping Disney+ as family-friendly for all ages, and placing shows such as this, and a TV show based on the movie High Fidelity, on the slightly more adult-oriented Hulu. Love, Victor will include topics such as alcohol use, marital issues, and sexual exploration.

Related: These actors are to play gay husbands in new Marvel movie, The Eternals

On another positive note, the broadcaster must have confidence in the new show. Hulu has reportedly already commissioned a writer’s room to begin exploring stories for a possible second season.

Cimino yesterday welcomed the news on his Instagram account, saying: “I’m so so excited to join the HULU family and couldn’t be more thrilled to hear the their passion and belief in “Love Victor” to start up the writers room for season 2 I love you all and thank you for the continued support Oh and one more thing THE SHOW AIRS IN PRIDE MONTH.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Michael Cimino (@itsmichaelcimino) on Dec 29, 2019 at 9:02am PST

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Bernie Sanders Stands by Remarks on Fidel Castro at CNN Town Hall: WATCH

At Monday night’s CNN Town Hall, Chris Cuomo asked Bernie Sanders about his recent comments praising Cuban dictator Fidel Castro’s literacy program. Sanders said, during a 60 Minutes interview on Sunday, that “it’s unfair to simply say everything [Castro did] is bad.”

Said Sanders: “There were a lot of folks in Cuba at that point who were illiterate. He formed the literacy brigade. (Castro) went out and they helped people learn to read and write. You know what, I think teaching people to read and write is a good thing. I have been extremely consistent and critical of all authoritarian regimes all over the world including Cuba, including Nicaragua, including Saudi Arabia, including China, including Russia. I happen to believe in democracy, not authoritarianism.”

Cuomo then went on to point out criticism from Democratic members of Congress who say you shouldn’t praise Castro for anything.

Replied Sanders: “Truth is truth. If you want to disagree with me, if somebody wants to say — and by the way, all of those congresspeople that you mentioned just so happen to be supporting other candidates, just accidentally, no doubt. Coincidentally. But the truth is the truth, and that’s what happened in the first years of the Castro regime.”

CNN adds: “Though no names were mentioned, neither Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell or Rep. Donna Shalala, the two congresswoman who criticized Sanders, have formally endorsed any Democratic primary candidate. Both lawmakers represent areas of South Florida.”

The post Bernie Sanders Stands by Remarks on Fidel Castro at CNN Town Hall: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Bernie Sanders Stands by Remarks on Fidel Castro at CNN Town Hall: WATCH

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: February 25, 2020

HRC RELEASES 2020 PRESIDENTIAL QUESTIONNAIRE, CANDIDATE RESPONSES: HRC asked 16 questions on topics ranging from the Equality Act to health care, and conversion therapy to immigration reform. For the first time, HRC’s questionnaire asks the candidates for their plans to address the epidemic of violence facing transgender and gender non-conforming people, especially Black trans women. “The more than 11 million LGBTQ voters and 57 million Equality Voters — LGBTQ voters and our allies — are crucial members of the intersectional coalition that will oust President Trump in November,” said HRC President Alphonso David (@AlphonsoDavid). “Our community is looking for a leader that understands the challenges we face each and every day and has substantive, realistic plans to overcome them. The Trump-Pence administration must be stopped and HRC will work nationwide through November to ensure that they are.” See the full results of the questionnaire from HRC. 

Where do the Democratic presidential candidates stand on
�� Marriage equality
�� Health Care
��️‍�� The Equality Act
����⚪️ Transgender rights
And more?

Check out @HRC’s Presidential Questionnaire to find out. t.co/tTTbZVcIGX

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 24, 2020

SUPREME COURT MUST REJECT TAXPAYER-FUNDED DISCRIMINATION: Yesterday, HRC responded to the Supreme Court’s decision to hear Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, which could have an enormous impact on the lives of more than 440,000 children in foster care around the country by enabling a license to discriminate against LGBTQ people and other marginalized communities using taxpayer funds. “It is unconscionable to turn away prospective foster and adoptive families because they are LGBTQ, religious minorities, or for any other reason unrelated to their capacity to love and care for children,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “The Supreme Court must make it clear that freedom of religion does not include using taxpayer funds to further marginalize vulnerable communities.” More from HRC. 

HORRIBLE — HRC MOURNS TRANSGENDER WOMAN WHO WAS KILLED IN PUERTO RICO: Said HRC Director of Community Engagement for the Transgender Justice Intiative Tori Cooper (@MsToriCooper1): “This is a horrifying crime that must be investigated with the utmost thoroughness and care. This victim, who has now been identified as Neulisa Luciano Ruiz, was a human being, a member of a community, a friend and family member. She had dreams, hopes, hobbies and did not deserve to have her life taken from her. HRC has heard that Ruiz was experiencing homelessness, further highlighting the ways a toxic mix of transphobia and misogyny conspire to put the transgender community at risk of extreme violence.” Read more from the Washington Blade. 

TUESDAY TWEET — YESTERDAY, HRC JOINED LOCAL ADVOCATES IN MARYLAND TO SUPPORT MAKING SCHOOLS MORE INCLUSIVE FOR LGBTQ STUDENTS: Learn more about HRC Foundation’s Welcoming Schools here. 

• On Thursday, Feb. 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. This fifth annual Jazz and Friends National Day of School and Community Readings is sponsored by Welcoming Schools and the National Educational Association. More from HRC. 

.@HRC was at the Prince George’s County School Board Meeting in support of an amendment to the budget to support HRC Foundation’s Welcoming Schools’ efforts to increase support for LGBTQ students.

Thanks to those who joined us and showed their support. pic.twitter.com/hS1Ogl2w7g

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 24, 2020

HRC ENDORSES PRO-EQUALITY OHIO U.S. REPS JOYCE BEATTY (@RepBeatty), MARCY KAPTUR (@RepMarcyKaptur), MARCIA FUDGE (@RepMarciaFudge) AND TIM RYAN (@RepTimRyan): “Leaders like Representatives Beatty, Kaptur, Fudge and Ryan have not only been steadfast allies of the LGBTQ community, they have used their positions of power to help improve the lives of LGBTQ people in Ohio and across the nation,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “Now, it’s time to make sure these leaders have the support they need to continue to work on behalf of all Americans, including the LGBTQ community.” More from HRC. 

IN THE STATES

MAINE CONSIDERING NON-BINARY GENDER OPTION FOR BIRTH CERTIFICATES: More from Central Maine.

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

LGBTQ COMMUNITY IN AWADH, INDIA, HELD A PRIDE PARADE THIS WEEKEND: More from Hindustan Times. 

NEW SURVEY FINDS MANY CANADIAN MEN ARE STILL EXPERIENCING CONVERSION THERAPY: More from Vancouver Sun. 

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

Forbes interviews Kebone Moloko (@KemoMoloko), co-founder of Queer Women in Business + Allies, which empowers queer women, trans & non-binary entrepreneurs across the African continent; Advocate looks at a new docuseries about being an LGBTQ person 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!

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