Judge working from home caught shirtless during court hearing on Zoom

The coronavirus pandemic has people all over the world working from home, including many government officials. But not everyone is adapting to the changes as quickly or smoothly as others.

Earlier this month, a Brazilian judge lived out everyone’s worst nightmare when he didn’t seem to realize his camera was on and that his colleagues could see him half-naked on a video call.

Carmo Antônio de Souza is an appellate judge in the northern Brazilian state of Amapá. On April 7, he appeared shirtless in a Zoom conference with five other members of the Amapá State Court of Justice.

At the start of the meeting, 57-year-old de Souza could be seen drinking from a glass while staring into his computer screen at the other six court officials, who were all dressed in appropriate work attire.

Upon realizing he was on camera, he awkwardly sidestepped out of the frame, returning a few moments later wearing a shirt. Once he was fully clothed, the 1186th Ordinary Session of the Single Chamber commenced as though nothing out of the ordinary had just happened.

Both the video and screenshots of the shirtless judge quickly made the rounds on social media. This week, the court announced that it had looked into the incident and determined the whole thing was an honest mistake and de Souza hadn’t done anything wrong.

“The practice of carrying out judicial sessions by videoconference is a recent development,” the Amapá State Court of Justice said in a statement released Tuesday. “The occurrence of incidents such as what happened is perfectly understandable.”

It continued by trying to deflect some of the attention by, of course, blaming to media and suggesting that outlets trying to imply de Souza intentionally appeared bare-chested were spreading misinformation and “fake news.”

At least de Souza figured things out before one of the other judges had to tell him because that would’ve been really embarrassing.

Moral of the story: Wear clothes to work. Even when you’re working from home.

Related: 10 “shocking” gay Carnival images that Brazil’s homophobic president should tweet out to the world

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‘Walking Dead’ Actor Daniel Newman Says He’s a Top But is Attracted to Tops and Might Bottom if Married

Walking Dead actor Daniel Newman announced last week on Twitter that he’s a top.

“I’m a TOP. I’m too lazy to bottom!” Newman wrote. “Lol. Maybe if I got married. But I’m also always super attracted to Tops so I guess whoever is strong enough and can pin down the other wins that night.”

Newman’s announcement came after he tweeted at 8:37 a.m., prompting one of his followers, “Disgruntled Jarhead,” to ask whether he was still awake or woke up early.

“I’m a Bot. We don’t sleep,” Newman wrote.

“Bot(tom),” Disgruntled Jarhead quipped.

“Nah,” Newman responded, before providing his longer explanation.

Newman was recently in the news after he went to an emergency room with COVID-19 symptoms, but was unable to get tested.

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Messy room!!

A post shared by DANIEL NEWMAN (@danielnewman_) on Apr 15, 2020 at 9:28am PDT

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A post shared by DANIEL NEWMAN (@danielnewman_) on Apr 16, 2020 at 3:26pm PDT

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I hate when I cut my nails too short!

A post shared by DANIEL NEWMAN (@danielnewman_) on Apr 5, 2020 at 1:43pm PDT

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ONE When I open up my eyes I see the World we live in People on two different sides fight for what they believe in beyond the barriers and Lies the fate that we’ve been given we all have got to unify and see we’re all really ONE ONE I see that we are all really ONE ONE While the world keeps spinning we hang ONE ONe I see that we are all really One ONe While the world keeps spinning When I open up my eyes I see the world in pieces children way too young to die becoming faceless victims are we too numb to even cry or feel the pain they’re facing we all have got to unify and see were all really ONE ONE I see that we are all really ONE ONE While the world keeps spinning we hang ONe ONe I see that we are all really One ONe While the world keeps spinning Oh We’ve got to learn We’ve all got to learn Oh To change this world It’s your and my turn Oh We’ve got to learn We’ve all got to learn Oh To save the world it’s your and my turn When I open up my eyes I see the world in colors so beautiful and so divine were all a million shades of light now I see with brand new eyes were all just sisters and brothers we all have got to unify and see we’re all really ONE ONE I see that we are all really ONE ONE While the world keeps spinning we hang ONe ONe Copyright words and music by Daniel Newman #OneWorld #Concert @ladygaga @finneas @adele @billieeilish

A post shared by DANIEL NEWMAN (@danielnewman_) on Apr 9, 2020 at 4:51pm PDT

The post ‘Walking Dead’ Actor Daniel Newman Says He’s a Top But is Attracted to Tops and Might Bottom if Married appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

‘Walking Dead’ Actor Daniel Newman Says He’s a Top But is Attracted to Tops and Might Bottom if Married

HRC and Partner Organizations Call on Congress and States to Expanding Voting Rights

Last week, Republicans — on both the state and national level — put their own politics ahead of the health and safety of Wisconsinites, by severely limiting vote-by-mail in an effort to retain a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Wisconsin voters were forced to leave the safety of their own homes in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, in order to exercise their constitutional right to vote. While many were able to request absentee ballots, thousands of voters who requested ballots never received them. 

Voters across the state of Wisconsin were harmed, but those in marginalized communities were disproportionately impacted by these deplorable efforts to suppress the vote. People of color, LGBTQ people, elderly people, people living with disabilities, and people suffering from illnesses, particularly in urban counties, were forced to wait in lines for hours. Hours where they continued to be vulnerable to a virus shown to disproportionately impact them. 

To be clear, Wisconsin’s electoral process was an absolute mess. While many voters mustered the sheer will and determination to overcome voter suppression efforts, we absolutely cannot allow this sequence of events to ever happen again. We must act now to protect our democracy.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, every poll over the last year has indicated unprecedented enthusiasm about the 2020 election. This enthusiasm suggests a potential record-breaking turnout in November, unlike any we have seen in our lifetimes. Americans want to participate in our democracy and it’s incumbent on our federal and state governments to ensure we all have that opportunity. 

To that end, we are calling on Congress to fund, and states to implement the following provisions, so that we do not repeat what we saw in Wisconsin and that we are prepared for elections in November: 

1. First, because of disruptions to traditional, in-person voter registration opportunities, states must expand voter registration options by allowing online voter registration and same day voter registration.

2. Second, all voters must be able to vote by mail, from the safety of their homes, if they choose. States must expand vote by mail options by, for example, removing restrictions such as witness requirements, and establishing no-excuse absentee voting.

3. And third, voters must be able to safely vote in person if they choose. States must expand in-person voting options by extending early voting periods, increasing the number of polling locations during early vote and on Election Day, and ensuring voters’ safety by following CDC guidance at all in-person polling locations. 

President Trump and his anti-equality allies have already announced a $10 million voter suppression campaign to make it harder than ever before for people to vote. Our government should be promoting and improving access to our democracy, not limiting it.

Voting is a fundamental right under the U.S. Constitution. But that right is under attack and voters across the country face a patchwork of voting laws that vary from place to place. However, one thing that every state shares is the extent to which the COVID-19 outbreak will change the way we exercise our right to vote. 

The impacts of the COVID-19 virus will affect voters, government officials, and volunteer poll workers alike. In the face of such widespread change, our federal and state governments must act to safeguard the fundamental right to vote. No one in America should be denied the right to vote because of health and safety concerns or confusion about the voting process. The changes we call for today will make major improvements to our electoral system and ensure that voters have the opportunity to have their voices heard in a safe, secure manner. Doing nothing is untenable. Our right to vote is the fundamental pillar of our democracy and we must protect it.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-and-partner-organizations-call-on-congress-and-states-to-expanding-voti?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Making the Cut’s Jonny Cota Tears Up Skyping With Husband in New Clip

The gay designer finds hope and inspiration in communicating with family members through a screen.

www.advocate.com/television/2020/4/17/making-cuts-jonny-cota-tears-skyping-husband-new-clip

Sam Smith, Demi Lovato Compete in Queer Olympics, Announce ‘I’m Ready’ for Love in New Music Video: WATCH

Sam Smith and Demi Lovato are out with “I’m Ready,” which depicts them competing in various Olympic events alongside LGBTQ performers and drag stars.

Rolling Stone reports: On the song, Smith and Lovato detail what they’re looking for in their ideal partners: someone who is loyal, strong and worthy of their affection. More importantly, both announce that they are finally ready to take the risk. “I’m ready, I’m ready, I’m ready, I’m ready for someone to love me,” they sing on the chorus. By the end, a full choir amplifies the pair’s message. Jora Frantzis (Cardi B, Rosalía) directed the video, which features Smith and Lovato competing in a series of Olympic events alongside a star-studded cast of LGBTQ performers and drag stars, including RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants Valentina and Gigi Goode.

More from a press release: The video finds Sam and Demi competing in a variety of Olympian events – wrestling, diving, synchronized swimming, gymnastics and a 100 meter race – culminating in a medal ceremony as the song reaches its epic climax. It was helmed by award-winning director Jora Frantzis (Cardi B, Rosalia) and renowned choreographer Sean Bankhead (Normani, Missy Elliot). The remarkable cast of competitors includes Valentina (James Leyva), Karis (Charis Wilde), Alok (Alok Vaid-Menon), Gigi Goode (Samuel S. Geggie) from Season 12 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” Shea Diamond (Shagasyia Diamond) and Jeffrey Williams. “I’m Ready” will appear on Smith’s third studio album, due out later this year. The single is the first of the new music Smith promised fans in this recent album postponement announcement.

Among those reacting to the video on social media was real-life gay Olympian Gus Kenworthy, who declared that he, too, is in fact ready:

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Omfg who did this?!

A post shared by gus kenworthy (@guskenworthy) on Apr 16, 2020 at 7:09pm PDT

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Sam Smith, Demi Lovato Compete in Queer Olympics, Announce ‘I’m Ready’ for Love in New Music Video: WATCH

#AM_Equality: April 17, 2020

TOMORROW AT 2 P.M. ET — HRC HONORS TRANS HIV TESTING DAY WITH ADVOCATE PANEL: The panel will include Tori Cooper (@MsToriCooper1),  Director of Community Engagement, HRC’s Transgender Justice Initiative; Ja’Mel Ashely Ware, Vice President, Trans Gentlemen of Excellence (@TransGentofExc); Fredy Roberts-Ramirez, TGNC Youth HIV Prevention Program Manager; Zakia McKensey, Founder and Executive Director, Nationz Foundation (@NationzRva); Alphonso Mills, Consultant and Non-Medical Case Worker; Maria Louise Roman, Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, TransLatin@ Coalition (@translatinacoalition); Jasmine Tasaki (@JasmineTasaki), Executive Director, WeCareTn; and Tatyana Moaton, Senior Capacity Building Specialist, San Francisco Community Health Center.

• If you are interested in listening in on this powerful conversation, or to speak more with the panelists or HRC’s team, feel free to reach out to Elliott Kozuch at [email protected].
• HRC observes National Transgender HIV Testing Day: National Transgender HIV Testing Day (April 18) recognizes the importance of HIV testing and the continued focus on HIV prevention and treatment efforts among trans people. HIV testing is an effective prevention tool that can actively engage trans people and communities in their sexual health and wellness while empowering them to make healthy choices that improve their lives. Read more at HRC.

FRIDAY FEATURE — HRC PRESIDENT ALPHONSO DAVID IN THE HILL, THE FDA BLOOD BAN IS STILL ROOTED IN STIGMA AND BIAS: “[C]ontinuing to enforce the de facto prohibition on blood donation by sexually active gay and bisexual men does not reflect the best science available,” writes HRC President Alphonso David (@AlphonsoDavid) in the op-ed. “Modernization of the policy is essential to ensure that the blood supply remains as safe as possible while maximizing the donor pool. This must be a time governed by science and measured unbiased thinking.” Read the full op-ed in The Hill.

AMID COLLEGE CLOSURES, MANY TRANS STUDENTS ARE FORCED TO HIDE THEIR TRUE SELVES BACK HOME: For many, the closure of college campuses and communities meant a loss of safety and dignity, of access to vital health care and, fundamentally, a space — any space — where they could be themselves. More from Molly Hensley-Clancy (@mollyhc) at BuzzFeed.

AFTER JOHANNA METZGER’S MURDER, COMMUNITY ORGANIZED AN ONLINE ZOOM VIRGIL TO REMEMBER HER: Metzger is believed to be the sixth transgender or gender non-conforming person violently killed this year in the U.S., and the eighth death in Baltimore since HRC began tracking this data in 2013. More from HRC and Jeff Truesdell (@jhtruesdell) at People.

IN THE STATES

ACLU FILES LAWSUIT OVER IDAHO’S DISCRIMINATORY ANTI-TRANS LAW: Amidst a pandemic spreading throughout the country, Idaho passed two bills in March that would stop trans people from correcting the gender marker on their birth certificates and bar transgender women and girls from participating in sports consistent with their gender identity. More from Idaho Statesman and The New York Times.

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

POLISH PARLIAMENT VOTES TO DELAY TWO BILLS OPPOSED BY LGBTQ ADVOCATES THAT WOULD RESTRICT ACCESS TO ABORTION AND SEX EDUCATION: More from Euronews.

HUNGARIAN BILL BANNING GENDER MARKER CHANGE ON PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS COULD PUT TRANS PEOPLE AT HARM: More from Openly.

ARGENTINA SEES MOMENTUM ON EFFORTS TO PROMOTE INCLUSION THROUGH GENDER NEUTRAL LANGUAGE: More from Daniel Politi (@dpoliti) at The New York Times.

READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!
Out Smart Magazine shares a fun reading list for National Poetry Month

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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