Raven-Symoné On Univision Host's Michelle Obama Comment: 'Some People Look Like Animals'
Nearly a week following the dismissal of Univision host Rodner Figueroa for comparing Michelle Obama’s appearance to someone from the cast of the “Planet of the Apes,” the Emmy Award-winner’s comments were among a selection of hot topics on Monday’s episode of “The View.”

During the show’s segment, which featured Raven-Symoné as a guest host, co-host Rosie Perez said Figueroa’s comment exposed a secret in the Latin community that stems from Latinos’ reluctance to recognize that “African blood” is embedded within their ancestry.

“There is a secret in the Latin community, specifically the Caribbean, South American, Central American Latin community. They are very racist,” Perez said. “They never want to be in the same group as black people. And it’s very, very sad. And he did say Michelle Obama looked like a cast member of the ‘Planet of the Apes.’”

Raven-Symoné, however, questioned whether Figueroa’s intent was “racist-like” since he admitted to voting for President Barack Obama in both elections. Perez disagreed.

“I am the Latin person here on this table and I would like to tell you that it was racist, period,” she declared. “And the thing is this is a problem in the Latin community that we do not talk about. That we do not address. And it is real and it was revealed by this man’s statement. And you do not disrespect the first lady of our country.”

The “That’s So Raven” star quickly interjected by saying, “Some people look like animals. I look like a bird. So can I be mad if somebody calls me a Toucan Sam?”

Check out the moment in the clip above (beginning at the 8:17 mark).

www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/17/raven-symone-michelle-obama-some-people-look-like-animals_n_6888018.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

Hundreds Rally against Bill in Georgia Attacking LGBT People

Hundreds of fair-minded Georgians gathered this afternoon at the State Capitol to stand in opposition to SB 129, a bill that targets LGBT people and also threatens to undermine all existing state civil rights law.
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/hundreds-rally-against-bill-in-georgia-attacking-lgbt-people?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

BREAKING: Rep. Aaron Schock Resigns, Possibly Joining The Cast Of “Downton Abbey”

What a waste of $40,000.

We’re talking about our favorite non-gay Republican Aaron Schock’s Washington, D.C. office. The one he spent 40,000 taxpayer dollars on to resemble the set of Downton Abbey. Well, it looks as though the freshman congressman from Illinois will be vacating that office at the end of this month after announcing his resignation following a long string of ethics scandals.

“Today, I am announcing my resignation as a Member of the United States House of Representatives effective March 31,” Schock said in a statement released earlier today. “I do this with a heavy heart. Serving the people of the 18th District is the highest and greatest honor I have had in my life.”

By “serving the people” we can only assume he means “spending their money.”

In case you need a refresher, earlier this year, 33-year-old Schock was accused of misreporting a private flight as a “software expense” and of using taxpayer money to take his staff on getaway to New York City. This was in addition to flying himself on a private jet to a football game in Chicago. Then there was that whole $10,000 trip to India in which he secretly snuck his “male companion” along to “take pictures for his Instagram page.” For a penny-pinching fiscal conservative, Schock seems to have no issue spending loads of cash. So long as it doesn’t belong to him, that is.

“The constant questions over the last six weeks have proven a great distraction that has made it too difficult for me to serve the people of the 18th District with the high standards that they deserve and which I have set for myself,”  Schock’s statement continued. “I have always sought to do what’s best for my constituents and I thank them for the opportunity to serve.”

While his time in Washington may be up, we’re confident this won’t be the last that we’ll be hearing from the Men’s Health model. Unconfirmed reports say he’s angling for a spot on next season’s Downton Abbey.

We’ll keep you posted.

Related stories:

Aaron Schock Doesn’t Want Anyone To Know About His Expensive Male “Companion”

The Amazing Adventures Of The Fabulous Aaron Schock — Courtesy Of Donors And Taxpayers

Ten Reasons Why We Would Want Aaron Schock To Come Out–Or Maybe Not Come Out

Graham Gremore

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FDA Approves Further Study Of Promising Gene Therapy HIV Treatment

Charles Pulliam-Moore

www.towleroad.com/2015/03/fda-approves-promising-gene-therapy-hiv-treatment.html

Op-ed: Ignoring Trans Suicide Is Not 'Responsible Reporting'

Industry standards discourage journalists from reporting details on suicide, but silencing the final words of trans people is more likely to contribute to erasure than contagion.

read more

Greta Martela

www.advocate.com/commentary/2015/03/17/op-ed-ignoring-trans-suicide-not-responsible-reporting

Amy Schumer Isn't Shy About 'Feeling Entitled To An Orgasm'
All hail Amy Schumer.

The 33-year-old comedian sat down with Entertainment Weekly reporter Danielle Nussbaum at the SXSW festival on March 16 according to Cosmopolitan.com she discussed her new movie “Trainwreck,” her thoughts on feminism and just how much her stage persona reflects her real life.

“I think people know that [my persona] is a major exaggeration,” Schumer told Nussbaum. “Look, I’m no stranger to a cock… I completely love sex and I don’t feel shy about feeling entitled to an orgasm if I’m having sex with somebody. But I don’t really have that much of it and I’ve been in mostly monogamous relationships. But then in between if I meet someone and I’m attracted to them, I’m gonna have sex with them.”

Nussbaum interviewing Schumer at SXSW

Nussbaum asked Schumer what she thinks of Jerry Seinfeld’s recent comment that there aren’t any barriers for women in comedy. According to Cosmopolitan, Schumer agreed with Seinfeld and explained how comedy in particular lends itself to a more even playing field: “I think if you’re funny, you’re funny, and people seek it out… I feel like there’s always been an abundance of funny women. I grew up loving Gilda [Radner] and Carol [Burnett] and Lucille Ball and Whoopi Goldberg.”

Schumer also explained her thoughts on feminism and why she identifies as a feminist.

“[It’s the] social, political, economic equality of women,” she said. “I think if you’re against that, you’re a crazy person. Or you don’t know what it means. And that we don’t actually have it is a bummer. It seems like we should be further along. That’s why it was so exciting to see Patricia Arquette shout that out about equal pay because it’s insane that it’s still an issue. But there are definitely a million issues. And I think there’s still that weird association with the word feminist and, I don’t know. I think people are afraid for some reason.”

Sounds about right to us.

www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/17/amy-schumer-entitled-to-orgasm-sxsw-2015_n_6885192.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

Legislation Introduced to Ensure Equality in Social Security Benefits

Earlier today, Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) as well as Representative Ron Kind (D-WI) introduced legislation to ensure that all same-sex couples are able to receive equal benefits from the Social Security Administration.
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/legislation-introduced-to-ensure-equality-in-social-security-benefits?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Unemployed Man ‘Shamed’ For Gay T-Shirt, Speaks Up For His Right To Dress Sloppy To Job Center

We’re all for personal expression through clothing. You want to wear a neon green miniskirt with a faux fur crop top out to dinner? Live your life!

But there’s a general rule of thumb that if you’re going to a job interview, the idea is to look half-way presentable.

Which is why we’re a bit baffled by this story from Burnley, a town in Lancashire, England. The unemployed man you see to the right, Shaun Clark, 28, is claiming discrimination after wearing a t-shirt with the slogan “Nobody knows I’m gay” to a local job center.

Normally we stick up for someone enduring harassment, but this just seems a bit much. If the goal is to go on interviews and land a job, the shirt choice seems counterproductive. It could just as easily say “My wife is hot,” and chances are the job center would still find a problem.

According to Clark, there’s a bigger issue:

“I am proud to be gay and I don’t think there is anything wrong with the T-shirt. I have always worn a shirt and tie to an interview but I feel there is nothing wrong in wearing the T-shirt to the Jobcentre. It is discrimination.”

Here’s the center’s take:

“Our Jobcentre Plus advisers up and down the country work hard every day supporting people into jobs and treating everyone fairly. Staff in our Burnley branch encourage all job-seekers to dress in smart interview attire, as employers regularly attend and recruit directly from the Jobcentre.”

Sorry Clark, gotta side with the center on this one. We’re sure your shirt kills at happy hour, but it isn’t going to land you a job anytime soon.

Though seeing as it’s also been reported that he’s been on Job Seekers Allowance for the past four years, maybe that’s the idea.

Dan Tracer

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My gay Dublin: Aifric Chriodain on Ireland's most charming, cheerful city

To celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, the Trinity College Dublin student shares her love of her buzzing hometown

read more

jamiet

www.gaystarnews.com/article/my-gay-dublin-aifric-chriodain-irelands-most-charming-cheerful-city170315

RuPaul’s Drag Race Recap Realness: Something Sickening This Way Comes

Fresh from Sasha’s elimination, the gals saunter in to review her lipstick prestidigitations. She’s apparently Team Ginger, for those keeping score. It seems as though Ms. Belle was neither there to win nor to make friends, because if she hadn’t signed out on the mirror, it’s unclear that the remaining contestants would have noticed she was gone. Probably they’re at least conscious of the extra room now that her relaxed Lady Bunny wig has shipped out. Jasmine and Kennedy actually celebrate the loss; they’re tired of the young, white, generic queens taking up space. (But girl, don’t try to tell me that you can’t tell Trixie and Fame apart; those two animals do not belong in the same zoo.)

But Miss Masters isn’t always nasty. She wakes up all chipper comments and corny jokes (COME ON, META HUMOR) and wins back the hearts of the viewing audience instantly, I’m sure. Before anyone can get too deep into the medical specifics, Ru breaks up the discussion of Jaidynn’s nasty-ass feet with some fun announcements. One: the ladies will be “acting” in “Shakespearian” “plays” this week, and two: they’ll be competing in an elderly dance-off mini-challenge.

I could watch an entire hour devoted just to the nursing home portion of the show. Everyone busts out some really delicious looks. Actually, can we talk about this? Does anyone else have trouble buying the fifteen-minute prep window we’re being sold? It takes me fifteen minutes to find my lipstick, there’s simply no way these ladies have turned out presentations this right in a schedule so wrong. Shit, Jasmine had time to go out and buy bread.

In the end, Kennedy’s architectural achievement in ass padding and Max’s eerily accurate vision of her future self earn them wins, and they are allowed to choose teams. They both say no to segregation, which is a relief because drag queens shouldn’t have to march for their rights. (In those heels?!) They also both say no to Violet, but unfortunately someone has to have her on their team. That’s the thing about a tchotchke (which, PS, is how you spell that, hon): it’s fun to look at, but if your grandma picks one up off her dresser and is like, “do you want to take this home with you, bubuleh?” you’re all, “uh… gee, I don’t know where I’d put that… I mean, I don’t have a bag with me…”

Kennedy, it turns out, is ill-equipped to herd the cats she has selected. Her initial role assignment seems on point, but Jasmine isn’t interested in playing the “ghetto” girl. And I’m not spilling pink lemonade on that choice; if she’s not about representing racial stereotypes, then I’m all about her not doing that. (Again: drag queens take stands, but we’re not marching.) But then Jasmine has Violet’s role and Violet has Jasmine’s role, and then they suck and get switched back, and it’s sort of portrayed like that’s the only option, but aren’t there other people on this team? There’s a cheer coach and a witch… shuffle those cards a little, Miss Davenport, I’m sure you can come up with a solution that doesn’t lead your group down the path toward disaster. (Spoiler alert: my optimism about avoiding disaster is sorely misplaced.)

Max’s team has an easier time in pretty much all respects. Everyone over there is perfectly content being pigeon-holed based on a single character trait, and the overall level of acting ability is a notch higher, though I suspect that judicious editing has helped Fame immensely. The main drama comes from Jaidynn’s unexplained breakdown. She’s feeling a lot of pressure because of her inexperience or her desire to win or maybe just her tight corset, but something’s squeezing out those tears. It’s all good, though: Mother Max is as supportive as a sports bra and her gaggle of gals ends up gliding to an easy victory.

Act Two is considerably rougher. Like, beyond stubble. We’re talking a week of growth at least. Pearl manages to mimic the actors of Shakespeare’s time most closely in that she is dead. Other than Katya, no one knows their lines or their blocking or maybe even their names. It is a fiasco factory. Eventually, Ru has to comment on what an epic shit show she’s witnessing, but by the time she’s weighed in, it’s like asking the Titanic not to sink.

The bearded runway is a chance for the creative kittens to shine. Mama Ru doesn’t have facial hair, perhaps because she rushed straight to the runway from her full-costume screen test for Storm in the next X-Men movie. (That is why she’s wearing that, right? I need this in my life.) There are a great many highlights, from Pearl’s satanic spikes to Trixie’s religious iconography to Katya’s penny dreadful. But the top spot goes to Max, who directed her troupe of starlets to glory and brought us a Mathu-Anderson-meets-Monty-Python masterpiece on the main stage.

But leadership isn’t all glory and free latex couture. Kennedy, dragged down by the weight of her sullen, memory-impaired castmates, sinks to the bottom two. Even the lightness of her patchy, pubescent beard can’t save her. She’ll be duking it out against Jasmine, who’s got a face full of excuses but nary a hair on her chinny chin chin. (The suggestion that she would need to be hospitalized from exposure to spirit gum sends Michelle’s face into the kind of stony glare that could have Violet defensively bitching in the workroom for weeks.)

I expected a no-holds-barred, Coco-versus-Alyssa “release the kraken” moment from this lip sync, but it was actually pretty tame. Jasmine milks her one quick dip for much longer than she should, especially considering how much of the performance has been cut out. Like, she was probably just bobbing up and down like that the whole god damned time. Though Kennedy is known for her spectacular dancing, she’s cinched into a restrictive dress, so her repertoire of moves is limited to disco cheerleader arms. It’s enough to save her, however, and Miss Masters sashays.

She’s happy that, of all people, it was her sister who slayed her. It’s a fittingly Shakespearian end to this episode. Exeunt.

Chris J. Kelly performs under the drag name Ariel Italic; in addition to this recap, he hosts weekly Drag Race viewings at the 9^th Avenue Saloon in New York City.

Chris Kelly

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