WATCH: Steamy new doc chronicles the West Coast answer to Studio 54

Studio 54 may have more notoriety as the world’s most infamous disco, but it was not alone. The trailer for Studio One Forever wants you to know about another.

The new documentary from director Marc Saltarelli examines the wild history of Studio One and The Backlot, sister venues located in West Hollywood that attracted the gay and showbiz sects beginning in the 1970s. Much like Studio 54 in New York City, the club developed a notorious reputation for hedonism, celebrity run-ins and wild parties.

Related: You’ve Heard Of Stonewall, But How About These Four Other LGBT National Landmarks?

“For a generation of gay men who came of age during the era of Scott Forbes’ Studio One, the significance of the club and the turbulence of the times hold a profound place in their hearts and minds,” director Saltarelli says. “From 1974-1994, the club saw the rise of the gay rights movement, the rise and fall of disco and the darkest days of the AIDS crisis when the club became ground zero for AIDS activism…Connected to the dance club, The Backlot evolved into the hottest live music venue in town. On any given night, you could catch established stars like Liza Minnelli, Chita Rivera or Eartha Kitt alongside up and comers like Roseanne Barr or Rosie O’Donnell on the verge of taking off.”

Studio One and The Backlot, later known as Ultra Suede and The Factory, thrived until the 2010s when the gentrification of West Hollywood led to the shuttering and demolition of the venue. Saltarelli aims to memorialize the location, and its historic value. Studio One Forever includes archival footage from the different incarnations of the club, along with anecdotes told by patrons including Bruce Vilanch, former West Hollywood Mayor John Duran, film historian David Del Valle, Melissa Rivers, and more.

Studio One Forever has an anticipated release date of October 2020. At the moment, Saltarelli is soliciting donations from potential viewers to help fund post-production on the film. 

www.queerty.com/watch-steamy-new-doc-chronicles-west-coast-answer-studio-54-20200424?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Amid Pandemic, Trump is About to Roll Back Protections for LGBT Patients

President Donald Trump’s administration appears to be just days away from rolling back an Obama-era policy prohibiting discrimination against LGBT patients.

Politico reports: The health department is close to finalizing its long-developing rewrite of Obamacare’s Section 1557 provision, which barred health care discrimination based on sex and gender identity. The administration’s final rule on Thursday was circulated at the Justice Department, a step toward publicly releasing the regulation in the coming days, said two people with knowledge of the pending rule. The White House on Friday morning also updated a regulatory dashboard to indicate that the rule was under review. Advocates fear that it would allow hospitals and health workers to more easily discriminate against patients based on their gender or sexual orientation. … “If the final rule is anything like the proposed rule, HHS is adopting changes that would be harmful in the best of times but that are especially cruel in the midst of a global pandemic that is disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities and exacerbating disparities,” said Katie Keith, a lawyer and Georgetown professor who’s tracked the rule.

Keith and other advocates fear the new rule will deter LGBT people from seeking care during the COVID-19 crisis.

Last month, more than 100 LGBT organizations signed a letter calling on public health officials to address the community’s heightened vulnerability to the coronavirus. And, earlier this week, the Center for American Progress issued a report highlighting the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on the LGBT community, including when it comes to healthcare discrimination.

From CAP’s report: Even when LGBTQ people have insurance coverage, discrimination can prevent them from accessing medical care. A growing number of courts are interpreting the ACA’s prohibition on sex discrimination to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in federally funded health programs; however, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is currently finalizing a rule that would remove explicit protections for LGBTQ patients. A nationally representative survey commissioned by CAP found that 1 in 4 LGBTQ people reported experiencing discrimination in the year prior, while 8 percent of lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults and 29 percent of transgender adults reported that a health care provider refused to see them because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. LGBTQ people who experienced any form of discrimination were nearly seven times more likely to report avoiding a visit to a doctor’s office to avoid discrimination. No one should be denied medical care because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, particularly not during a pandemic.

The post Amid Pandemic, Trump is About to Roll Back Protections for LGBT Patients appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Amid Pandemic, Trump is About to Roll Back Protections for LGBT Patients

Bravo’s “Family Karma” cast member Amrit and his boyfriend discuss their parents’ journeys towards LGBTQ acceptance in season finale

www.glaad.org/blog/bravo-family-karma-cast-member-amrit-and-his-boyfriend-discuss-their-parents-journeys

WATCH: Drag queens perform powerful ‘We’ll Meet Again’ to help elders

A video has struck a chord with many living under stay-at-home orders, while also helping to raise money to benefit some of the most isolated.

It features 26 drag queens performing along to the classic song, ‘We’ll Meet Again’.

Originally performed by British singer Vera Lynn in 1943, the track became popular with soldiers, their sweethearts and families during World War II. It has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent weeks, as much of the world shelters in lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The video is linked to a fundraiser for the British charity Age UK, which helps improve the lives of seniors.

“Older people have been among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 crisis,” explains a statement on the fundraising page. “They are among those most at risk from the disease, already experience a disproportionate level of social isolation and may find it more difficult to adapt to communicating online.”

Related: SF Gay Men’s Chorus gives first virtual performance and it’s beautiful

The project was the idea of the UK-based drag queen, Cheddar Gorgeous.

Participants in the video come from five different countries, including Peaches Christ and Hollow Eve from the US and Australia’s Courtney Act. Crystal and Blu Hydrangea from RuPaul’s Drag Race UK also appear.

“The song was floating around my consciousness,” Cheddar tells Queerty via a phonecall. “And then I heard it was Vera Lynn’s 103rd birthday.

“I’d been chatting to a couple of my friends who live in San Francisco, and Courtney [Act] was in LA. I said ‘I want to do this daft thing, are you up for it? And you can get some other people involved, too?’

“And so it started very much as me trying to find ways to connect with people who I’ve worked with, in the past. As drag queens, we are in a situation where our entire careers, our lives and the way we connect as artists, has been shut down by this crisis,” he said.

“Then it fed into another stream of what’s going on for me at the moment,” he continued, “which is I’ve been doing quite a lot of work with LGBT elders. Older people in our society struggle with making their needs visible. It’s very easy to brush the needs of older people under the carpet. And one of the things about drag: it has this power to draw attention to things that might not necessarily be being seen or recognized.”

At the time of writing, the fundraiser had just reached its £2,000 ($2,465) of its £2,500 ($3,080) target.

Related: Courtney Act and her same-sex partner lose ‘Dancing with the Stars’ despite always scoring highest

Cheddar says he’s currently alone during the lockdown, living in a tiny apartment in Manchester, England.

He says being alone has focussed him, like so many others, on getting used to the “the ebbs and flows” of his emotional states. However, he also recognizes, “how our discomfort forces us to think about things in new ways, do things in new ways, connect with people we weren’t connecting with before, so I think every discomfort in life is also an opportunity. I try to embrace that.”

www.queerty.com/watch-drag-queens-perform-powerful-well-meet-help-elders-20200424?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Trump Signed Off on Georgia Governor’s Reopening Plan Before Coming Out Against It: VIDEO

As nonessential businesses in Georgia reopen Friday despite federal coronavirus guidelines, the Associated Press is reporting that President Donald Trump signed off on GOP Governor Brian Kemp’s ill-advised plan before publicly coming out against it.

The AP reports that both Trump and Vice President Mike Pence repeatedly told Kemp they approved of his decision to allow gyms, barber shops, hair salons, tattoo parlors and bowling alleys to reopen. According to one coronavirus model frequently cited by the White House, Georgia should not allow those businesses to reopen for nearly two more months, on June 22.

Asked to say more about his disagreement with Gov. Kemp about his move to reopen businesses, Trump changes the topic to talking about how Kemp’s victory represented a win in his proxy war against the Obamas pic.twitter.com/w1DEJzkSVk

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 22, 2020

From the AP: The green light from Pence and Trump came in separate private conversations with the Republican governor both before Kemp announced his plan to ease coronavirus restrictions and after it was unveiled on Monday, the officials said. Trump’s sudden shift came only after top health advisers reviewed the plan more closely and persuaded the president that Kemp was risking further spread of the virus by moving too quickly. … The extraordinary reversal — and public criticism of a GOP ally — is only the latest in a series of contradictory and confusing messages from the president on how and when he believes governors should ease stay-at-home orders intended to stop the spread of the deadly virus. It demonstrates the political risk for governors in following the unpredictable president’s guidance.

The post Trump Signed Off on Georgia Governor’s Reopening Plan Before Coming Out Against It: VIDEO appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Trump Signed Off on Georgia Governor’s Reopening Plan Before Coming Out Against It: VIDEO

#AM_Equality: April 24, 2020

NEW HRC DATA ON THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY: “It is unfortunately not surprising to see that the LGBTQ community is facing adverse economic impacts due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said HRC President Alphonso David (@AlphonsoDavid). “This new data bears out our initial predictions that LGBTQ people were likely to face greater economic hardship, and is more proof that the most marginalized communities are the most at risk. We have seen the health impact of this virus on communities of color, and we now have the data to show how the LGBTQ community is struggling. For those of us at the intersections of these identities, it is even more profound. We must take this moment to fight for the resources to ensure that communities most impacted can weather this storm.” More from HRC, NewNowNext, MTV, New York Daily News, Vice and Metro Weekly.

HRC MOURNS LAYLA PELAEZ SANCHEZ AND SERENA ANGELIQUE VELAZQUEZ RAMOS, TRANS LATINAS KILLED IN PUERTO RICO: HRC is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Layla Pelaez Sánchez, a 21-year-old transgender woman killed in Puerto Rico on April 21. Sánchez, 21, and Ramos, 32, are believed to be the seventh and eighth transgender or gender non-conforming people violently killed this year in the U.S. In 2020, four of the eight deaths of trans and gender-non conforming people have been in Puerto Rico. More from The New York Times.

“HRC is mourning alongside the loved ones of Serena and Layla, the people of Puerto Rico and the entire transgender community. Serena and Layla, like us all, had family, dreams, hopes — and they did not deserve to die,” said Tori Cooper, HRC Director of Community Engagement for the Transgender Justice Initiative. “Transgender and gender non-conforming people, especially women of color, are too often the victims of a toxic mix of transphobia, racism and misogyny. People and policy must work together to protect our lives and our well-being. HRC stands in solidarity with all who knew and loved them.”

WHY WE FIGHT FRIDAY — #DECISIONDAY FOR THE SUPREME COURT ON TITLE VII: We are still waiting for decisions in the two Supreme Court cases regarding Title VII non-discrimination protections, but HRC is planning on joining our partners to host a virtual rally and town hall on the day the decisions come down. This virtual event will allow us to gather and discuss the outcome and what comes next. If you’d like to join us on the (TBD!) decision day, RSVP in advance here.

LGBTQ ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICANS ARE FACING A TWO-FRONT BATTLE DURING COVID-19: “[LGBTQ] people are more vulnerable to the health risks of COVID-19 and often more likely to work jobs in highly-affected industries — with data showing that one in five LGBTQ people currently live in poverty. LGBTQ people who are also Asian and Pacific Islander are now confronting a surge in COVID-19 motivated racism and harassment,” said HRC Press Secretary Viet Tran (@viethoaitran). “Hate has no place in our country and Trump’s racist and divisive language only continues to place the Asian and Pacific Islander community — especially immigrants — at risk of violence and discrimination.” More from Vice.

LGBTQ HOTLINES PROVIDING LIVE-SAVING SUPPORT TO THOSE IN NEED DURING QUARANTINE: Even as their offices transition to working from home, LGBTQ hotlines like the Trevor Project are providing care to LGBTQ youth and young adults. They report calls to their service have increased since quarantine began. More from Forbes.

GET CULTURED – Entertainment, arts and sports news!

HRC’S ALPHONSO DAVID ON THE END OF ‘WILL & GRACE’: “From the series premiere in 1998, when marriage equality did not exist, to this week’s series finale, which airs amidst the ongoing fight for equality for all LGBTQ people, Will & Grace has changed how LGBTQ people see themselves and their stories represented on television.”

HRC WINS THREE SHORTY AWARDS!

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

Washington Blade talks to LGBTQ businessowners about how they are faring during COVID-19; Variety reviews a new Netflix documentary on LGBTQ history

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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How to celebrate ‘Day of Silence’ virtually, on its 25th anniversary

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the Day of Silence—a national, historically student-led day of action to call attention to the silencing and harassment of LGBTQ students.

The first Day of Silence was organized in 1996 by then-student Maria Pulzetti and her classmates at the University of Virginia, for a class project on non-violent protests. That April, over 150 LGBTQ students and allies stood quietly together to call attention to the silencing and harassment of LGBTQ students. The movement went national the next year. Over a hundred other universities across the country participated, gathering huge press attention for their deliberate silence. GLSEN (formerly the Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network), the national educational organization that works to end discrimination, harassment, and bullying and advocates for full LGBTQ inclusion in schools, officially sponsored it in 2001.

Today, over two decades later, over ten thousand students and educators make the pledge to participate in the Day of Silence. These participants are both members of the LGBTQ community and their allies. They are students at elementary schools, middle schools, and universities. They come from all fifty states; some even participate from communities outside the U.S., internationally. When prompted, many Day of Silence participants choose to hand out cards or hold signs with the following statement: 

“Please understand my reasons for not speaking today. I am participating in the Day of Silence, a national youth movement protesting the silence faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their allies in schools. My deliberate silence echoes that silence, which is caused by harassment, discrimination, and prejudice. I believe that ending the silence is the first step towards fighting these injustices. Think about the voices you are not hearing today. What are you doing to end the silence?”

Members of the GSA at North Idaho College stand at the entrance of their Student Union Building with red tape on their mouths and signs explaining their silence, 2015.

Their day-long vow of silence is broken by rallies and events designed for students to reclaim their voices, share their experiences, and draw attention to ways schools and educational communities can become more inclusive for their LGBTQ students. 

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, this year’s Day of Silence will be hosted virtually. Educators are encouraged to pause their teaching for community silence and solidarity for three minutes at 3PM EST/2PM CST/1PM PST/11AM HST. Later on, events for breaking the silence will range from virtual rallies, zine making parties, and online open mics to virtual teach-in events on topics like pronouns, LGBTQ history, and LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum. To find out what’s happening in your region, check out your local Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) groups and LGBTQ networks. GLSEN is hosting its National Online Breaking the Silence rally at 5:30PM EST. 

With people spending more time online than ever, students and educators are encouraged to speak out through social media. Speaking out can include sharing posts and photos from Breaking the Silence events or using the hashtag #DayofSilence and #BreakingTheSilence to spread the word. GLSEN has created this sign that participants can print and hold to explain why they’re participating in their Day of Silence posts. More of GLSEN’s resources, including this awesome zine from their 2019-20 National Student Council with tips and stories for participants, can be found on their website.       

Big news! Friday, advocate & @AMarch4OurLives founder @Emma4Change & @QueerEye‘s @tanfrance will be among the big names joining us to #BreaktheSilence at our virtual rally concluding GLSEN’s #DayofSilence. Join them and thousands more by registering! t.co/tskF152ykP pic.twitter.com/ajLkT5Q2EI

— GLSEN (@GLSEN) April 23, 2020

While Day of Silence recognizes and honors the significant changes that have been made over the past few decades, it also strives to recognize the still relevant need for progress. ​GLSEN’s 2017 National School Climate Survey​ found that 83.7% of transgender and 69.9% of gender non-conforming (GNC) students had been bullied or harassed for their identities. Nearly half of both groups reported they had been prevented from using their preferred name/pronouns or had been required to use the bathroom that does not match their gender identity. Almost all LGBTQ students—98.5%—had heard ‘gay’ being used in a negative way. Studies have shown that supportive and inclusive educational policies can change these numbers drastically. With these in place, LGBTQ students are less likely to be forced to use the wrong bathrooms, prevented from using their chosen names and pronouns, less likely to miss school, drop out, or face harassment. 

Day of Silence is a necessary day of protest and mourning for many LGBTQ people. It was only a little over a decade ago that, in 2008, Day of Silence was held in memory for Lawrence ‘Larry’ King. He was an 8th grader from E.O. Green Middle School who had been shot by his classmate for being openly gay, just ten years after the murder of University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard.

Realities like these make many kids feel unsafe in school. Growing up, I didn’t feel comfortable coming out during high school when I realized I was queer. Like many others, the harassment I heard and saw towards the LGBTQ community was part of the reason why I stayed in the closet until I got to college. I never could have imagined that I’d find the community that I have today. I’m extremely grateful for the chance to be able to speak out about my experience, to fight for more than myself.

As schools move online and LGBTQ students away from safe spaces and chosen families and towards potentially unsupportive homes, it’s more important than ever to advocate for them and for us. It’s time to break the silence. Register with GLSEN to let them know you’re participating at this link.

Daniel Camacho is a GLAAD Campus Ambassador and senior at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign studying Computer Science and Linguistics. He has been involved with and running intersectional activist groups – specifically for queer and trans people-of-color – for almost all of his undergraduate career. He also strives to advocate for LGBTQ+ representation and rights in the expanding field as a campus ambassador for the O4U Tech Conference and as an active member of OSTEM.

www.glaad.org/amp/how-to-celebrate-day-of-silence-on-25th-anniversary