#AM_Equality: May 19, 2020

TWO KANSAS CITY POLICE OFFICERS ARRESTED FOR ATTACKING BLACK TRANS WOMAN IN 2019 — CRIME CAUGHT ON CAMERA: “This horrific video is showing the world the type of violence committed against transgender and non-binary people, Black people and especially those who live at the intersection of those identities throughout our country and the world.  We must never stop fighting to ensure safety and dignity for all,” said HRC Director of Community Engagement Tori Cooper (@MsToriCooper1). More from The Root.

• Tragically, the victim of this attack, Brianna “BB” Hill, was later killed in an unrelated event in October 2019. More on her death from HRC.

This is horrific on so many levels.

-The blatant police brutality
-The delay of justice
-The fact Brianna “BB” Hill will never see justice because she lost her life to the epidemic of anti-trans violence

Our systems are failing us. More must be done.t.co/EdSxmJpGf1

— Alphonso David (@AlphonsoDavid) May 18, 2020

SOME LGBTQ YOUTH MAY BE QUARANTINING IN UNWELCOMING HOMES: NPR’s Patti Neighmond explores the needs of LGBTQ youth, talks to the Trevor Project about the rise in calls they’ve had to their LGBTQ hotline and offers suggestions for finding supportive communities during COVID-19. More from NPR.

• According to an HRC Foundation survey of LGBTQ youth, nearly one in two respondents who were out to their parents said their families made them feel bad for being LGBTQ and 67% said that their family makes negative comments about LGBTQ people. More on supporting LGBTQ youth during COVID-19 from HRC.

TUESDAY TWEET — HRC JOINED ACT TO CHANGE’S TWITTER CHAT ON AAPI DAY AGAINST BULLYING: Learn more about the day from Act to Change. Read the conversation using the #DayAgainstBullying hashtag.

JOIN US TODAY, along with more than a dozen cities and states, nearly 200 organizations, and many elected officials and influencers, to commemorate the National #AAPI #DayAgainstBullying+Hate 2020.#APAHM #ActToChange #UnitedWeStand #VincentChint.co/nS2V2x6fIA pic.twitter.com/XS5lAXalCP

— Act To Change (@ActToChange) May 18, 2020

NEW RESEARCH ON HIV PREVENTION DRUG THAT CAN BE INJECTED ONCE EVERY TWO MONTHS: More from Pink News.

IN THE STATES

ACROSS THE COUNTRY, COMMUNITIES FINDING NEW WAYS TO CELEBRATE PRIDE: In Buffalo Grove, Illinois, HRC Youth Ambassador Molly Pinta is shifting the parade she helped found to a car parade, to ensure the safety of participants. More from Daily Herald.

GET CULTURED – Entertainment, arts and sports news!

NEW STREAMING SERVICE, FEMME POWER TV, FOCUSES ON LGBTQ CONTENT: More from AdWeek.

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

NEW REPORT DETAILS 117 KILLINGS OF LGBTQ PEOPLE IN MEXICO IN 2019 — HALF BELIEVED TO BE TRANS WOMEN: More from Pink News.

AFTER NEARLY 50 DAYS IN PRISON, UGANDA DROPS CHARGES AGAINST 19 PEOPLE BELIEVED TO BE LGBTQ: More from Gay Star News.

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

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!

www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-may-19-2020?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

NYC Pride and GLAAD to support “Pride 2020 Drag Fest,” a three-day digital drag festival to celebrate Pride and raise funds for local drag performers

www.glaad.org/blog/nyc-pride-and-glaad-support-pride-2020-drag-fest

These gay bears reveal what domestic life looks like for most couples

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by @thebigdog77 on Dec 14, 2019 at 8:15am PST

A tweet highlighting the reality of life for most couples, in contrast to the “Insta-cute” version promoted by some influencers, has gone viral.

The tweet comes from Tyler Hightower (@TheBigDog77).

I’m tired of seeing this corny ass couple on my TL pic.twitter.com/ResEUGLCVF

— TY (@TheBigDog77) May 17, 2020

The caption says, “I’m tired of seeing this corny ass couple on my TL” and is accompanied by a video of Tyler and boyfriend Ahdeem in bed together.

Tyler proceeds to question a well-known YouTube couple and contrasts their relationship with his own.

“They were together for like two seconds of some shit and didn’t even ask all the right questions, crying on camera. You know what real couples do?” he asks.

He then pulls the camera back to reveal him and his boyfriend. Tyler is in his underwear and has a games console resting on his belly and his boyfriend, tucked under a blanket, is watching something on his laptop.

“They have their fucking tits out … their fat guts, I’m playing Xbox and he’s on the computer. That’s what couples do.

“And you know what we do?” he continued. “We talk and then we go through these like lulls where we’re having a conversation for like 15 or 20 minutes, and then I’m so focussed on the game, or he’s so focussed on what he’s watching on TV or the computer, we like, you know, stop talking for a little bit. Just cos we’re so wrapped up in what we’re doing.

“This is what fucking couples do. This is what we look like … This pre-packaged bullshit is horrible, and it has people out here with these wild ideas or misconceptions about what relationships need to look like, and it’s not OK.

“People are having a hard enough time as it is, trying to find love and shit,” he concludes.

Related: Karamo Brown makes fiancé Ian Jordan burst into tears

The YouTuber that prompted the rant was Malcolm ‘MJ’ Harris. The financial advisor, motivational speaker and influencer has 172,000 subscribers of his YouTube channel.

He recently started dating a new boyfriend, Corey, and the two have been in quarantine together in Los Angeles. However, last week, on a filmed video call with a friend, Corey revealed in front of MJ that he doesn’t want to be in a monogamous relationship.

MJ and Corey subsequently filmed themselves having a heated discussion about monogamy vs. open relationships. Then, on the weekend, MJ posted a video of Corey packing up his stuff and moving out.

The videos have had tens of thousands of views and prompted much comment on social media. Although he didn’t name them, Tyler confirmed to Queerty this was the couple he was talking about.

“I was bombarded and inundated with their videos and honestly, I had enough because you could feel how much of a farce it was.”

Many on Twitter found Tyler’s honest take on relationships very relatable.

Yes. My partner is doing his homework. I’m reading a book and textingmy friends. The room is silent. We’re in love.

— Troublemaker (@PresidentPat) May 17, 2020

Yes!! My wife was in her art & crafts cave all day, I binged Law & Order SVU. We ate lunch, went back to our things then cooked dinner together, enjoyed each other. Real life.

— Michelle King-Hart (@AMichelleKing1) May 17, 2020

A handful of people said Tyler should concern himself with his relationship only and not judge others.

Hell u do u and let them b them. So what. Let them put their business out if they want to. But y disrespect them. Just say I hope they find love damn. U gotta shame them like

— TK (@tonyNC919) May 17, 2020

Tyler told Queerty he was not expecting his Tweet to go viral. At the time of writing, it’s had over 33k likes and 7k re-tweets.

“I think it resonated with many people because as consumers of media, we are tired of being spoon-fed bullshit.

“People know when others are being authentic, and I think that’s why people enjoyed my video. They recognized that my partner and I are regular everyday people living our regular imperfect lives.

“I don’t care that I have a double chin, or back rolls because that is real. Not that being fat is synonymous with real but being fat is a part of my truth. People who have been following me or new followers that review my content can see tell that my partner and are, if nothing else, honest and genuine. The love we have for each other is real and people can feel that through the screen.”

Related: The dancer using lockdown to entertain neighbors with amazing street routines

Tyler and Ahdeem, who live in Philadelphia, went viral last October with a photo of themselves kissing.

“Posting this because representation matters,” the accompanying caption said. “The black, gay, and happy gworls are out here! We live together and have two cats. This was our 1 year anniversary. We are at the 1 year and 8month mark and still going strong!”

Posting this because representation matters. The black, gay, and happy gworls are out here! We live together and have two cats. This was our 1 year anniversary. We are at the 1 year and 8month mark and still going strong! pic.twitter.com/MZiIfzl5e1

— TY (@TheBigDog77) October 1, 2019

Ahdeem works in construction and Tyler is a clinical researcher. He’s currently particularly busy as he’s involved with clinical research and trials for COVID-19.

Meanwhile, MJ Harris has taken to YouTube to share that he’s getting on with life since splitting with Corey, and that reflecting on the many things he’s grateful for is helping deal with the pain of the split. He also asked people not to leave “borderline toxic” and “mean-spirited” comments toward his Corey (which may partly explain why comments on those videos have now been disabled).

Harris also says he’s learned lessons from his relationship with Corey and will be sure to ask future potential partners their views on monogamy sooner.

www.queerty.com/gay-bear-sweethearts-reveal-domestic-life-looks-like-couples-20200519?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Obama and Trump Shun White House Presidential Portrait Unveiling Ceremony: REPORT

The traditional unveiling of the previous president’s official portrait at the White House likely isn’t happening anytime soon, at least while Trump is president.

NBC News reports: “Trump is unconcerned about shunning yet another presidential custom, and he has attacked Obama to an extent no other president has done to a predecessor. Most recently he’s made unfounded accusations that Obama committed an unspecified crime. Obama, for his part, has no interest in participating in the post-presidency rite of passage so long as Trump is in office, the people familiar with the matter said.”

Let’s hope it’s not 2025 before the Obama portrait is unveiled.

A 2017 report on presidential portraits.

The post Obama and Trump Shun White House Presidential Portrait Unveiling Ceremony: REPORT appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Obama and Trump Shun White House Presidential Portrait Unveiling Ceremony: REPORT