Ireland’s Gay Leader, Leo Varadkar, Resumes Medical Practice in Crisis

Varadkar will do phone consultations while continuing his duties as prime minister.

www.advocate.com/world/2020/4/07/irelands-gay-leader-leo-varadkar-resumes-medical-practice-crisis

Daily Dose: The love story we just can’t quit

Welcome to Queerty’s latest entry in our Queerantined: Daily Dose series. Every day as long as the COVID-19 pandemic has us under quarantine, we’ll release a suggested bit of gloriously queer entertainment designed to keep you from getting stir crazy in the house. Each weekend, we will also suggest a bingable title to keep you extra busy.

The Seminal: Brokeback Mountain.

Straight actors get a lot of flack these days–somewhat deservedly–for playing gay characters as a sort of “awards bait.” That was not true back in 2005 when teen heartthrobs Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal opted to star in Brokeback Mountain for director Ang Lee. The story revolved around two ranch hands that have a love affair over a 20 year period. For two major stars to star in a gay-themed project at a time when George W. Bush had called for a constitutional amendment to prevent marriage equality, and when homophobic humor like that of Dane Cook and Todd Phillips packed audiences into cinemas, was a bold risk indeed.

The resulting film is a classic of queer cinema, even if it was directed by and stars two straight men. The reason: Brokeback Mountain doesn’t dwell on the sex between its two lead characters, though it doesn’t shy from it either. The movie focuses instead on the nature of enduring love, and the shame of homophobia that prevents two men from living and loving openly together. It’s no coincidence that Brokeback appeared at the time the fight for marriage equality had just begun, or that the film would help take LGBTQ stories to the mainstream. 15 years later, it remains a seminal film, featuring a director and a pair of actors at the height of their craft.

We just can’t quit.

www.queerty.com/daily-dose-love-story-just-cant-quit-20200407?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Leisure Travel Halt, JK Rowling, Doug Collins, Dr. Drew, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Carole King, Lunar Lander, Justin Russo: HOT LINKS

LEISURE TRAVEL. Flight attendants union wants it to stop: “On a Monday morning call with reporters, Sara Nelson, the powerful head of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, said at least one flight attendant had died and more than 100 flight attendants had tested positive for the virus so far. Nearly 1,000 were self-quarantined and several more were in intensive care. She urged the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration to issue advisories to the public to postpone any non-necessary voyages until the spread of COVID-19, the deadly respiratory disease caused by the new virus, is under control.”

AWFUL AND AWFULER. Doug Collins holds “significant lead” over Kelly Loeffler in Georgia: “A Battleground Connect survey, which was conducted internally for the Collins campaign and first reported by Politico, revealed that 36 percent of likely voters support Collins, who has represented the 9th District in Georgia since 2013, for the Senate seat currently held by Loeffler, who was appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp (R) following the resignation of former Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) late last year over health issues.”

SOME GOOD NEWS. Lin-Manuel Miranda and cast of Hamilton reunite for 9-year-old girl.

‘PRESS-INDUCED PANIC’: Dr. Drew apologizes for minimizing coronavirus crisis. “My early comments about equating coronavirus with influenza were wrong. They were incorrect.”

PURGE SIREN. Louisiana parish’s emergency alert is haunting and straight out of the movies. ‘In a video provided to Scripps station KATC in Lafayette, Louisiana, the alarm sound used by the Crowley Police is the same alarm sound used in the horror film franchise “The Purge.”‘

BREATHING AND COUGHING. JK Rowling says she had coronavirus but has recovered, and said breathing techniques helped.

DYING. Rapper YNW Melly says he is dying in prison with COVID-19: “The rapper’s lawyer, Bradford Cohen, filed legal docs, obtained by TMZ, claiming the rapper — in prison awaiting his murder trial — is suffering from severe chills, heavy labored breathing, headaches and body aches since he tested positive for the coronavirus.”

DETROIT. 700+ employees at hospital test positive for coronavirus: “More than 700 Henry Ford Health System workers have tested positive for COVID-19, the hospital system’s chief clinical officer said Monday. Dr. Adnan Munkarah said in a statement Monday evening that 734 employees have tested positive for the novel coronavirus out of nearly 2,500 employees who have received tests. The figure represents just over 2 percent of the hospital system’s 31,600 employees. More workers likely have the virus, but have not been tested.”

AUSTRALIA. Shark kills 23-year-old wildlife worker on Great Barrier Reef. “Police said the man was in the water, returning to a vessel chartered by the service when he was attacked Monday near North West Island, 47 miles northeast of Gladstone. He suffered extensive injuries to his leg and arm and died at a hospital hours later.”

INTERIOR DESIGNER TOUR OF THE DAY. Justin Russo’s apartment in Astoria, New York. I lovingly call my style “Secretly Gay WWII Veteran Returning to NY in 1946 to Mourn His Lover Lost in Battle.”

TINY HOUSE OF THE DAY. The Lunar Lander.

QUARANTINE RECIPE OF THE DAY. Neapolitan chicken.

‘BEAUTIFUL’ PERFORMANCE OF THE DAY. The cast of the Carole King musical performs “You’ve Got a Friend”.

TOO SMOLDERING FOR TUESDAY. Darius Williams.

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Guess what’s in my mug _______________________ #throwback #quarantine #vibes #coffee #tea #nyc #harlem #muscle #fit #fitfam #malemodel

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The post Leisure Travel Halt, JK Rowling, Doug Collins, Dr. Drew, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Carole King, Lunar Lander, Justin Russo: HOT LINKS appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Leisure Travel Halt, JK Rowling, Doug Collins, Dr. Drew, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Carole King, Lunar Lander, Justin Russo: HOT LINKS

HRC Global Fellows: Collaborating with LGBTQ Advocates in Albania

Last October, HRC Global welcomed Sidita Zaja, an activist and executive director of United Pro LGBT in Albania.This past February, I traveled to Albania to work with Zaja and community advocates in support of their campaign for LGBTQ acceptance and supportive policies.

Albania is a small, largely mountainous country on the Mediterranean coast of Eastern Europe’s Balkan Peninsula. It has a rich history, oscillating from Ottoman rule to occupation by Fascists, then a lengthy period of self-imposed isolation and communism. Its language is unique in the region, and it is considered one of the most secular nations. This history and culture has defined the lives of Albania’s LGBTQ citizens.

While Albania decriminalized same-sex sexual relations and adopted some protections against hate crimes and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, there are significant challenges to enforcement. For many LGBTQ activists, despite often low levels of public acceptance and difficult economic conditions, there are immediate opportunities to achieve progress, build support and make a real difference in the lives of LGBTQ people.

In my visit, I saw a close-knit community that was committed to making change and remarkably united in its goals. Meeting with Zaja and other LGBTQ advocates, I shared the history of the LGBTQ movement in the U.S. and the lessons we’ve learned. 

#HappeningNow

First day of Workshop for Pride Campaign 2020 in Albania with@taylorntbrown from @HRC, who is sharing, learning and collaborating with #HRCGlobalFellows & LGBTQ advocates as they expand their movement for equality and human rights. pic.twitter.com/IdJZywu9KB

— Historia Ime (@Historiaime) February 17, 2020

During my time there, I met with HRC’s allies and institutional partners, toured the facilities of Albania’s first shelter exclusively for LGBTQ people and showed HRC’s support at this year’s Miss Trans Albania 2020 contest.

HRC is focused on strengthening global equality movements, and collaborations like this, through HRC’s Global Fellows Program, are a big part of that effort. The Fellows Program facilitates knowledge-sharing, meaningful relationships and on-going dialogue among fellows, HRC Global staff and other innovative thinkers across equality movements.

It is through this work–when we are on the ground and engaging firsthand with community members–that HRC Global connects movements across borders. Through this all, we are providing support and guidance for LGBTQ advocates, and learning from these advocates as well. Our time working together strengthens our collective movements and gives me great hope for the future.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-global-fellows-collaborating-with-lgbtq-advocates-in-albania?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Campaign to Help LGBTQ Seniors Reminds Us Love Is Not Cancelled

The U.K. campaign seeks to raise funds and awareness for isolated LGBTQ people over 50 with the sale of T-shirts.

www.advocate.com/world/2020/4/07/campaign-help-lgbtq-seniors-reminds-us-love-not-cancelled

WATCH: Randy Rainbow just came out as a “Cuomosexual”

Undeterred by the doom and gloom surrounding the coronavirus epidemic, comedian Randy Rainbow has just released his latest music video.

“Andy! A Randy Rainbow Song Parody,” sends up the tune “Sandy” from the musical Grease. Rainbow uses the song to express his love and admiration for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo for his handling of the COVID-19 crisis.

Related: Randy Rainbow roasts Donald Trump over response to Coronavirus

“Andy, can’t ya see I’m in quarantine / A nervous wreck, and scurred as heck of COVID-19. You bring hope when I can’t cope. I guess I’m saying ay-ay-ay-oh-I love you so, oh, Andy,” Rainbow croons.

Rainbow also gives a shout out to Andrew Cuomo’s brother, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, who has been diagnosed with the coronavirus. He also needles Donald Trump for his non-response to the crisis, having first denied the existence of the virus and later promoted untested treatments.

Within hours of the new video’s release, the clip snagged more than 100,000 views and inspired the hashtag #cuomosexual.

“Andy my darling, this global pandemic is scaring me real bad,” Rainbow raps. “But watching your daily press briefing sure does calm me down. The way you manage to lead and inform without terrifying the living sh*t out of me or straying from the facts…You’re wise, level headed, eloquent and sexy at a time when the country needs it most.”

We tend to agree.

www.queerty.com/watch-randy-rainbow-just-came-cuomosexual-20200407?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29