Actor Antonio Sabàto Jr. says he was “blacklisted” for supporting Trump, now works in construction

Actor and failed GOP candidate Antonio Sabàto Jr. was one of the few–very few– Hollywood celebrities to publicly support Donald Trump in 2016. And while his candidate may have won, his career in Hollywood abruptly ended.

“I had to sell everything,” Sabàto tells Variety in a new interview. “I had to pay all my debts. I was blacklisted. All my representatives left me, from agents to managers to commercial agents. I literally had to move, find a new job to survive and take care of my kids. It’s been terrible.”

The 47-year-old former Calvin Klein model continues, “It’s mind-blowing. It’s a disgrace. It’s tough, because if you’re in that environment in Hollywood and you have something to say that they don’t like, they’re going to let you know.”

Related: Straight GOP candidate on gay film past: “I am not ashamed!”

In addition to bit parts on shows like Melrose Place and General Hospital, Sabàto appeared in a number of gay-themed films in the early 2000s.

His first was in 2003’s Testosterone where he played Pablo, a gay Argentine who disappears under mysterious circumstances. He spends half the movie in his underwear and even gets fully naked at one point:

He also appeared in 2005’s Deadly Skies, a made-for-TV piece of crap about an Air Force officer dismissed under the  the homophobic “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. In it, Sabàto once against gets naked and has a graphic (by 2005 standards) gay sex scene with his boyfriend:

Oh, and then there was this mildly homoerotic underwear wrestling scene he appear in in 1996’s Codename: Wolverine:

Speaking to Variety, Sabàto says he had a contact for a reality show with ABC that was yanked after he threw his support behind Trump.

“They offered me a job and they pulled it,” he says. “I’ve been working as an actor for 30 years. I haven’t done anything else. I did very well for 30 years.”

He also had a major film project shelved.

“I was talking to a distribution company about producing a film that was set to go, and they told me to my face, ‘We will never distribute a movie with you in it because of your affiliation with the president,’” Sabàto recalls.

“The reality is the power that makes movies happen in Hollywood–casting directors, producers, executive producers, directors–they’re all liberal. They hate anyone or anything who supports this president.”

He continues, “I always hope there’s some serious people out there that want to hire me for my talent. I rarely talked politics on sets anyway. That’s the last thing I want to do.”

Today, Sabàto is doing construction work in Florida to make ends meet.

“I’m on the ground,” he says. “I go on the job at two in the morning, and I’m making sure that the job is controlled and supervised by me. I’m in the car all day, driving, going through all the sites. Five days a week, nonstop.”

Despite losing, frankly, everything, Sabàto says he doesn’t regret backing Trump.

“I was the first celebrity to come out and talk about the president, and he had my vote from day one,” Sabàto says. “I was the first one to say he was going to win. My integrity is intact.”

His career, on the other hand, is another story.

Asked whether he’ll vote for Trump again in 2020, Sabàto replies, “Of course. I think he’ll be elected by 100 million votes.”

Related: Straight GOP candidate outed for gay “adult film” past, says “That’s just the way any actor works”

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Queer Man Celebrates After Appearing with Lover on Durex Condom Billboard: ‘I Am Beyond Proud’

Michael Allsop, a Belfast-born creative, celebrated with an emotional Instagram post after appearing on a billboard for Durex condoms for a campaign called “challenge the norms.” Northern Ireland only recently began allowing same-sex marriages. Scroll through for photos, below.

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ON A BILLBOARD – just where I like my picture to be! I am beyond proud to be part of such an incredible campaign with such an important message. Breaking down the pressure and stereotypes around sex and allowing people to enjoy their bodies. This campaign is very personal to me. Growing up in Belfast, and being from an Irish Catholic background, the words QUEER and GAY were often considered dirty words. After a long hard battle with the internalised homophobia and sexism that I was taught from a young age, I embarked on a journey of self acceptance, love and growth. This is when I learnt how to accept myself. At around 17 years old I took a vow that as I grew older I would be the QUEER that I needed to see when I was 12 years old. That 12 year old boy who was really struggling and couldn’t see a way out. Every day I try to present my authentic self, even though at times it has been hard or has lead to harassment. Now, here I am with my love Sean on a billboard celebrating love and sex and being real. Feeling very proud of myself and I hope someone who is struggling sees this post or the ad and it helps them to hold on and fight for a brighter future. SELF LOVE AND CELEBRATION IS A BIG VIBE FOR 2020 Campaign shot by photographer @emilyscarlettromain #givelove

A post shared by Michael Allsopp (@allyourmichael) on Feb 24, 2020 at 1:20am PST

Said Allsop in an Instagram post: “I am beyond proud to be part of such an incredible campaign with such an important message. Breaking down the pressure and stereotypes around sex and allowing people to enjoy their bodies. This campaign is very personal to me. Growing up in Belfast, and being from an Irish Catholic background, the words QUEER and GAY were often considered dirty words.”

“After a long hard battle with the internalised homophobia and sexism that I was taught from a young age, I embarked on a journey of self acceptance, love and growth,” he continued. “This is when I learnt how to accept myself. 
At around 17 years old I took a vow that as I grew older I would be the QUEER that I needed to see when I was 12 years old. That 12 year old boy who was really struggling and couldn’t see a way out. Every day I try to present my authentic self, even though at times it has been hard or has lead to harassment. Now, here I am with my love Sean on a billboard celebrating love and sex and being real. Feeling very proud of myself and I hope someone who is struggling sees this post or the ad and it helps them to hold on and fight for a brighter future.”

Metro reports: “The pictures in the campaign, taken by photographer Emily Scarlett Romain, were shared with the tagline ‘Challenge the norms’ and also included 75 images covering all ethnicities, orientations, body types, shapes, and sizes as picked by the Kintzing agency.”

The post Queer Man Celebrates After Appearing with Lover on Durex Condom Billboard: ‘I Am Beyond Proud’ appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Queer Man Celebrates After Appearing with Lover on Durex Condom Billboard: ‘I Am Beyond Proud’

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: March 4, 2020

VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE BANS SO-CALLED “CONVERSION THERAPY” TO PROTECT LGBTQ YOUTH: Virginia is the 20th state and the first Southern state to ban the discredited and dangerous practice. More from NewNowNext and Out.

Virginia joins…

California
Colorado
Connecticut
D.C.
Delaware
Hawaii
Illinois
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
New Jersey
New Hampshire
New Mexico
New York
Nevada
Oregon
Puerto Rico
Rhode Island
Utah
Vermont
Washington

…in protecting LGBTQ youth from “conversion therapy.” pic.twitter.com/10OMhDI4zz

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) March 3, 2020

LGBTQ VOTERS TURN OUT IN HISTORIC NUMBERS ON SUPER TUESDAY: In Super Tuesday states alone, 4,339,000 LGBTQ Voters & 21,153,000 Equality Voters cast their ballots. Last night, LGBTQ people nearly doubled their representation in the electorate according to NBC exit polling. “LGBTQ people showed up in record numbers and cemented our status as a crucial constituency to court,” said HRC President Alphonso David (@AlphonsoDavid). “The 11 million LGBTQ voters and 57 million Equality Voters — LGBTQ people and our allies — are ready to oust the Trump-Pence administration and elect a true ally in the White House.” More from NBC and HRC. 

From an NBC News exit poll, LGBTQ voters represented 10% of the #SuperTuesday electorate, more than double our population in these states. LGBTQ voters are difference makers and a constituency to court. ️‍ t.co/f2BotGhJpb pic.twitter.com/bphyRiKFiF

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) March 4, 2020

HRC ON CHRISTY SMITH’S STRONG PERFORMANCE IN HER BID FOR CA’S 25TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: “Tonight’s results show that voters in California’s twenty-fifth want a strong, pro-equality ally in Congress,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “Smith’s message of fairness and equality and her track record championing LGBTQ equality resonated with voters and brings us one step closer to ensuring we maintain our pro-equality majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.” More from HRC. 

WHAT WE’RE READING WEDNESDAY — HRC YOUTH AMBASSADOR AVI NEWLYN PACHECO ON EMPOWERING LGBTQ YOUTH TO EMBRACE THEIR AUTHENTIC SELVES: Pacheco shares that he wants to send a message of self-acceptance of “being able to own who you are and embrace all those things that make you different.” Read more from Julie Wotton-Greener (@julieswooton) at the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

HRC’S STATE EQUALITY INDEX REPORT HIGHLIGHTS LATEST PROTECTIONS FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY: More from WCPO.

LGBTQ YOUTH FIGHT FOR EQUALITY IN SEX ED IN SOUTH CAROLINA CLASSROOMS: “[It’s] frustrating to be in a classroom with my friends, with my peers and to feel that me and my fellow LGBTQ classmates are not being given equal treatment and equal education in regards to health and sex ed,” said Eli Bundy, a 15-year-old sophomore at Charleston County School of the Arts. “So not only is there the primary effect of not be[ing] given sex education, but then also the secondary effect of feeling rejected and not accepted in your school environment.” More from Hannah Hageman (@hannah_hagemann) at NPR.

MARYLAND HOUSE PASSES BILL EASING REQUIREMENTS FOR LEGAL NAME CHANGES: Members of the transgender community said the previous requirements prevented them from changing their names out of fear or lack of privacy. The bill now heads to the Senate committee. More from 47 ABC.

2020 CENSUS TO INCLUDE SAME-SEX COUPLES, THOUGH MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FULLY INCLUDE LGBTQ PEOPLE: More from Elvia Malagón (@ElviaMalagon) at the Chicago Tribune.

GET CULTURED – Entertainment, arts and sports news!

PUERTO RICAN ARTIST BAD BUNNY (@sanbenito) OPENS UP ABOUT LABELING HIS SEXUALITY: “It does not define me,” he says of his sexuality. “At the end of the day, I don’t know if in 20 years I will like a man. One never knows in life.” More from Los Angeles Times and Queerty.

• Last week, Bad Bunny paid tribute to Neulisa Luciano Ruiz, also known as Alexa, a transgender woman who was killed in Puerto Rico. More from Gay Times and HRC in English and Español.

MISS UTAH, RACHEL SLAWSON (@salty_rachel), WILL MAKE HISTORY AS FIRST LGBTQ WOMAN TO COMPETE AT MISS USA: Slawson is a proud bisexual woman. Erin O’Flaherty (@ErinROFlaherty), who is a lesbian, competed in the 2017 Miss America pagent. More from ABC4. 

PRIDE SOURCE INTERVIEWS ACTOR WILSON CRUZ (@wcruz73) ON NEW LGBTQ DOCUMENTARY, VISIBILITY ON AND OFF THE SCREEN: Wilson was the first openly gay actor to play an openly gay series regular in a leading role on television. More from Chris Azzopardi (@chrisazzopardi) at Pride Source.

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

LGBTQ ACTIVISTS FROM KOSOVO AND SERBIA ARE USING DRAG TO UNITE THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES: More from BBC. 

READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!
Them. spotlights Monica Roberts (@TransGriot), one of America’s most respected Black trans journalists; LGBTQ Nation shares that Dallas will soon have the most rainbow crosswalks in the country; Cosmopolitan spotlights 17 LGBTQ books everyone should read

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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Virginia is first southern US state to ban conversion therapy on minors

Virginia’s Governor, Ralph Northam, signed a bill yesterday banning the practice of so-called “conversion therapy” on minors.

Conversion therapy is the discredited practice of attempting to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity through psychotherapeutic means. It doesn’t work and usually does far more harm than good.

Virginia becomes the 20th state in the US – and the first in the south – to ban the practice on minors. Adults can still choose to pursue it if they wish. The legislation was introduced by state Delegate Patrick A. Hope (D-Arlington). It was passed in both the Virginia House and Senate, both of which are controlled by Democrats.

The ban will take effect from July 1, 2020.

Related: Utah’s Republican governor acts to ban conversion therapy on minors 

Governor Northam, besides his political role, works as a pediatric neurologist “who has cared for thousands of children.” In a statement, he said he was “proud” to sign the legislation.

“Conversion therapy sends the harmful message that there is something wrong with who you are,” said Governor Northam.

“This discriminatory practice has been widely discredited in studies and can have lasting effects on our youth, putting them at a greater risk of depression and suicide. No one should be made to feel they are not okay the way they are—especially not a child. I’m proud to sign this ban into law.”

Related: Bowen Yang opens up about undergoing conversion therapy as a teen

Delegate Hope added, “Conversion therapy is a dangerous, destructive practice. We should be supporting and celebrating our LGTBQ youth, not putting them in harm’s way.”

“[This bill is] a clear signal of the rapidly growing public support for LGBTQ equality in the South and sends a salient message: LGBTQ youth must be treated with respect, love, and support,” said the Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, executive director of the Campaign for Southern Equality, in a statement.

www.queerty.com/virginia-first-southern-us-state-ban-conversion-therapy-minors-20200304?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

School Official Removes Transgender Student from Dance for ‘Wearing Costume,’ Isolates Her in Library: WATCH

A school official at Rice Creek School in Port Wentworth, Georgia pulled a transgender student out of a school Valentine’s dance and said it was because she was wearing a costume. But according to her mother, she was simply dressed for the dance and “this was the first time she was able to express who she is inside, in a public setting.”

WJCL reports that the 13-year-old student “was wearing a black blouse, black slacks, eye shadow, and a rose in her hair.”

Said the student’s mother Charissa Mehojah: “Honestly, she was going to go in a dress, but she chose not to just in case it was going to be a problem. Rather than just apologizing and correcting the behavior, they asked me for medical proof that my daughter is transgender. Your formative years is when you start forming who you are at your core. You should be able to express that.”

The district released a statement:

SCCPSS supports and respects the rights of all students and does not discriminate based on the individual’s race, color, religion, or sexual orientation. We encourage students to build communities of inclusion and acceptance at their respective schools in accordance with district policy. 

Several high schools in the district have clubs and groups for LGBTQ students. To our knowledge, there has been no request for a club for LGBQT students at Rice Creek. The District seeks to provide a safe and orderly learning environment that responds to the needs of students in a manner that fosters respect for everyone and supports our vision of teaching and learning.

Our staff and students understand the need to support the rights of all while balancing the need for preserving an orderly environment. It is expected that students will adhere to dress code requirements at school and during school sponsored activities. Our students’ adherence to these requirements help to minimize disruptions to the learning environment or school activity. Any special considerations must be fully communicated so the school can review all requests and respond appropriately. Our information does not support the claim that the school principal asked for “medical proof” in this situation. Rather, the word “medical” was referenced when explaining the basis for certain policy exceptions. 

The school remains committed to all students and is working closely with the family to ensure the student is provided a supportive, caring learning environment.

The post School Official Removes Transgender Student from Dance for ‘Wearing Costume,’ Isolates Her in Library: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

School Official Removes Transgender Student from Dance for ‘Wearing Costume,’ Isolates Her in Library: WATCH

HRC Endorses Mike Espy for U.S. Senate

Today, HRC announced its endorsement of former Secretary Mike Espy in his bid for the U.S. Senate.

Secretary Mike Espy has been a strong ally for the LGBTQ community. Espy has committed to co-sponsoring and voting for the Equality Act if elected, crucial federal legislation that would finally guarantee explicit, protections for LGBTQ people under our nation’s existing civil rights laws. HRC previously endorsed Espy in his previous bid for this seat.

“Mike Espy is a true ally to LGBTQ people and will be a strong advocate for Mississippi in the U.S. Senate,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “Espy’s record of delivering for Mississippi stands in stark contrast to Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith who has failed Mississippi at every opportunity. Hyde-Smith’s indifference towards people of color and LGBTQ people is disqualifying and HRC will work hard to mobilize the almost 100,000 Equality Voters throughout the state to send Mike Espy to the U.S. Senate.” 

“I am proud to have the support of the Human Rights Campaign,” said Former Secretary Mike Espy. “The work they have done to advance equality in the LGBTQ community across the country is remarkable, and I am humbled by their support for my campaign for US Senate in Mississippi. I believe in the worth of every Mississippian regardless of age, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or varying levels of disability. God made us all in his image. My role as a public official is not to judge, but to assist every person to reach his or her God given potential.”

In the 2018 midterms, HRC helped register more than 32,000 voters and recruited more than 4,200 volunteers, who worked over 8,500 shifts and clocked more than 30,000 volunteer hours. In the critical final four days of the campaign, HRC staff and volunteers in get-out-the-vote efforts alone knocked on more than 80,000 doors, and held 36,400 conversations with voters at their doors and by phone on behalf of our endorsed candidates. HRC’s unprecedented grassroots mobilization represented an investment of approximately $26 million to recruit volunteers, mobilize constituents, register voters and grow the organization’s grassroots army in an all-out effort to pull the emergency brake on the hateful anti-LGBTQ agenda of the Trump-Pence administration and elect a Congress that would hold them accountable.

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