Category Archives: NEWS

Utah Passes Mormon-Backed LGBT-Related Anti-Discrimination Bill

Utah Passes Mormon-Backed LGBT-Related Anti-Discrimination Bill
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Mormon-church-backed anti-discrimination bill that protects LGBT Utah residents and religious rights is set to be signed by the state’s Republican governor on Thursday evening.

Gov. Gary Herbert, who pledged last week to sign the bill, will do so at the state Capitol during a special ceremony at 6 p.m., according to the governor’s spokesman Marty Carpenter. The state’s Republican-controlled Legislature gave final approval to the proposal late Wednesday night, with the House of Representatives voting 65-10 to pass the bill.

“I’m not asking you tonight to condone the lifestyle that you don’t believe in. I’m not asking you to give rights to them to preserve their lifestyle. In the narrowest form, I ‘m asking you to guarantee their rights, the same rights you and I have today,” said Rep. Brad Dee, a Republican from Ogden who is one of the sponsors of the bill.

When the bill passed, a crowd that packed the House gallery gave a loud cheer and standing ovation.

The bill was first unveiled last week and passed by the Senate on Friday.

It’s earned a rare endorsement from the Utah-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which has helped fast-track the measure through the Legislature.

Many Utah lawmakers and the governor are members of the church.

Conservative opponents have argued that the proposal, which is limited to housing and employment, doesn’t go far enough to protect religious rights.

The bill doesn’t address thornier discrimination questions about whether a business can refuse to serve someone for religious reasons, such as a wedding photographer who objects to photographing a same-sex marriage.

Critics have also argued that the bill creates special protections for gay and transgender people.

The Mormon church said it is fully behind the legislation, which follows the principles set out in its call for laws that balance religious rights and protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

The church’s support for the measure comes as the faith’s leaders have softened their tone in recent years regarding same-sex attraction. While moving away from harsh rhetoric and preaching compassion and acceptance, the LDS church insists it is not changing doctrine and still believes sex is against the law of God unless it’s within a marriage between a man and a woman.

LGBT advocates who’ve been pushing the issue at Utah’s Legislature for more than half a dozen years have celebrated the church’s endorsement, which has offered the kind of broad support they need to pass an anti-discrimination law in conservative Utah.

The bill would make it illegal to base hiring, firing and other employment decisions based on someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

It would also make it illegal to refuse to sell or rent, to deny a home loan, or to base other housing decisions because someone is LGBT.

Rep. Jeremy Peterson, an Ogden Republican who voted against the bill, said as a property manager, he rents to gay people and he doesn’t think there’s a need to a law protecting their right to housing.

“The free market is working in this. Landlords do what they’re paid to do, which is fill vacancies and collect rents,” he said.

Religious organizations and their affiliates such as schools and hospitals are exempt from the law, as is the Boy Scouts of America, which has a ban on gay adult Scout leaders and has close ties to the LDS Church.

For religious rights, the bill allows for people to express their beliefs in the workplace without retribution as long as they are not harassing someone and the speech doesn’t interfere with the company’s core business.

For example, if a company offered wedding planning services specifically tailored to same-sex ceremonies, an employee would not be able to express their views opposing against gay marriage.

It allows employers to adopt “reasonable dress and grooming standards” and “reasonable rules and polices” for gender-specific restrooms and other facilities, as long as they also accommodate transgender people.

Lawmakers say they specifically didn’t define a “reasonable” regulation in order to give employers flexibility to find a solution to their situation.

Later Wednesday night, the House voted 66-9 to approve a bill that allows county clerks to refuse to marry same-sex couples for religious reasons. But the bill requires a county clerk’s office to designate someone who will marry all couples, including gay couples, if the clerk opts out.

The 11 members of the House Judiciary Committee approved the measure earlier Wednesday, calling it a good balance between protecting religious rights while still accommodating gay couples who wish to marry.

Republican Sen. Stuart Adams sponsored the bill and said it guarantees same-sex couples will be able to find someone to marry them in each county.

LGBT advocates initially opposed Adams’ bill when it included broader religious protections.

Equality Utah’s executive director, Troy Williams, said Wednesday that his organization is now neutral on the bill after Adams addressed their concerns.

Several conservative organizations spoke in favor of the bill Wednesday, and the Mormon church issued a statement of support for the proposal.

It’s unclear whether the governor would support the marriage bill.

___

Follow Michelle L. Price at twitter.com/michellelprice

www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/12/utah-anti-discrimination-bill_n_6854624.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

Jon Stewart Thrashes Hillary Clinton Over Single Device, Email Excuses: VIDEO

Jon Stewart Thrashes Hillary Clinton Over Single Device, Email Excuses: VIDEO

Clinton_stewart

Jon Stewart had it out with Hillary Clinton’s Tuesday press conference in which she tried to explain to the media why she was using a private email address, wanted a single device, and why she deleted 30,000 emails. He also enjoyed a bit of ice cream.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP


Andy Towle

www.towleroad.com/2015/03/stewclinton.html

‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’ Star Doesn’t Want You To Think Of Titus As ‘The Gay Character’

‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’ Star Doesn’t Want You To Think Of Titus As ‘The Gay Character’

kimmy-schmidt-titusIt’s so funny that even today — and I know it’s a topical issue — that sexuality and the pendulum with which masculinity and femininity swings is so important to people. I mean, it really makes me laugh. First of all, I hope that people don’t stop — though they will — at, this is the gay character, this is the rich character. And I know people need past points of references with which to identify or find a way into who these people are. But his sexuality is the least of it. And the fact that he’s a struggling, poor wannabe actor is the most of it. And all of his motivations come out of that need for stardom, so if I want anybody to learn anything from Titus it’s to just never give up on your dreams. That’s kind of it, period.”

 

Tituss Bugess telling Vulture that being gay doesn’t define his Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt character Titus 

Jeremy Kinser

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/QPqigt4ZJXA/unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt-star-doesnt-want-you-to-think-of-titus-as-the-gay-character-20150312

PHOTOS: Fashion’s Incredible Catwalk Towards A Gender Fluid Society

PHOTOS: Fashion’s Incredible Catwalk Towards A Gender Fluid Society

As the latest menswear collections indicate, we’re moving ever closer and closer to a society in which gender simply doesn’t matter — from gender neutral bathrooms to Facebook’s embrace of the gender spectrum and iconic Selfridges doing away with binary clothing departments all together.

Fashion can either reenforce or radically alter traditional gender roles — but it also interprets cultural shifts. And the transformation we are seeing in the Millennials’ understanding of gender is starting to be reflected everywhere, from Hollywood to high school and the workplace.

For the past 50 years or so, women’s fashion has had a notable flirtation with le masculine, but increasingly men’s fashion, too, has straddled the gender divide.

With the transgender equality movement challenging the way we perceive gender and younger generations comfortable rejecting and redefining identity, let’s take a look at how fashion has and continues to influence the way we see and represent gender.

An Enlightened Idea

enlightenment-fashion

The Enlightenment first introduced to the Western world the idea of fashion as a barometer of culture and society, as well as a means of self-expression. Here we see the roots of fashion’s impact on gender representation — and how it has changed in some 300 years.

Le smoking in the Girls’ Room

ysl-deneuveYves Saint Laurent debuted le smoking, a woman’s tuxedo, in 1966, helping to usher in the modern era of fashion with its subversion of gender norms.

“Woman into Man”

newton-woman-into-man

Featuring female models (including Gia Carangi) in dual roles, Helmut Newton’s iconic “Woman into Man” series for Vogue Paris in 1979 played provocatively with masculin/féminin.

The Andorgynicons

bowieAndrogyny hit the mainstream with musical superstars who in turn became fashion icons for their imitable style, like David Bowie.

graceGrace Jones

princePrince

annieAnnie Lennox

boy-georgeAnd Boy George.

Let’s Talk About Unisex

marc-jacobs-vogueThe high-octane, cocaine-fueled hedonism of the ’80s gave way to the more somber ’90s, with glam going grunge. Here, Naomi Campbell and Kristen McMemany smell like teen spirit in Marc Jacobs’s controversial collection for Perry Ellis, photographed by Steven Meisel for Vogue in 1992.

A rise in contempo-casual also saw a uniformity in the way men and women dressed, as seen in this popular Gap khaki ad.

gap

Supermodels of the World

lea-t

Having high-stepped in haute couture shows and starred in commercial campaigns, trans supermodels Lea T (giving life above) and Andreja Pejic continue to break down barriers in the billion dollar fashion and beauty industries. In November Redken partnered with Lea T, making her the first transgender model to become the face of a global cosmetics brand.andrejaMeanwhile, Andreja — seen here making her return to the runway in Giles Fall 2015 show in London — will break into the movie biz in a role in Sofia Coppola’s upcoming Little Mermaid.

Blurred Lines

hba-telfar “The lines between male and female have become increasingly blurred,” trend-forecaster extraordinaire Lucie Greene told The New York Times, noting those blurred lines reflected in the fall collections by a number of gender-bending menswear designers including Hood by Air and Telfar (above).

Retail Revolution

selfridgesSelfridges — the second largest department store in the UK, but voted best in the world — is doing away with its mens and womens departments , as well as their traditional mannequins, in favor of gender-neutral shopping.

“We want to take our customers on a journey where they can shop and dress without limitations or stereotypes,” a spokesperson told The Sunday Times. “A space where clothing is no longer imbued with directive gender values, enabling fashion to exist as a purer expression of ‘self.”’


Les Fabian Brathwaite, open to the world since 1985.

Les Fabian Brathwaite

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/nRri5Y7Zqnw/photos-fashions-incredible-catwalk-towards-a-gender-fluid-society-20150312

Homophobic Navy Chaplain Facing Possible Discharge for Telling Student He Could 'Save' Gay People: VIDEO

Homophobic Navy Chaplain Facing Possible Discharge for Telling Student He Could 'Save' Gay People: VIDEO

Wes_Modder

Pentecostal chaplain Lt. Comdr. Wesley Modder may be kicked out of the Navy because of his outspoken anti-gay religious beliefs, reports Military Times.

Modder was given a “detachment for cause” letter in February after it was decided he is “unable to function in the diverse and pluralistic environment” because of his intolerance towards gay people and premarital sex.

Currently based at the Navy Nuclear Power Training Command in South Carolina, Modder is fighting the dismissal with attorneys from the anti-gay Liberty Institute.

The February letter cites several specific incidents in which the chaplain offered inappropriate counseling to sailors in the command.  Specifically, he told a female that she was “shaming herself in the eyes of god” for having premarital sex, told another student that homosexuality was wrong and that “the penis was meant for the vagina and not for the anus” and suggested to a student that he had the ability to “save” gay people.

A number of sailors filed equal opportunity complaints against Modder and commanders agreed that allowing vulnerable sailors to be counseled by him is “a recipe for tragedy.”

Liberty Institute attorney Michael Berry said the effort to fire his client reflects a broader cultural change in the military:

“I think what we are seeing is a hostility to religious expression in the military now. What we’re seeing is this new modern, pluralistic, Navy where service members are encouraged to be hypersensitive, especially about issues of faith, marriage and family.”

Berry added that Modder admits his anti-gay opinions:

“[He] does not dispute that during private, one-on-one pastoral care and counseling sessions, he expressed his sincerely held religious belief that…sexual acts outside of marriage are contrary to Biblical teaching…homosexual behavior is contrary to Biblical teaching…and homosexual orientation or temptation, as distinct from conduct, is not sin.”

Watch an entirely biased Liberty Institute video, complete with end-times warnings, AFTER THE JUMP


Jim Redmond

www.towleroad.com/2015/03/anti-gay-navy-chaplain-faces-possible-discharge-for-religious-intolerance-video.html

No civil unions for Peru as bill is blocked by Congressional Committee

No civil unions for Peru as bill is blocked by Congressional Committee

Members of Peru’s Congress will not get to vote on whether same-sex couples should be able to enter into civil unions for the second time in 5 years after a legal committee blocked the bill from moving forward

read more

andrewp

www.gaystarnews.com/article/no-civil-unions-peru-bill-blocked-congressional-committee120315

'Still Alice' Writer-Director Richard Glatzer Dead At 63

'Still Alice' Writer-Director Richard Glatzer Dead At 63
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Richard Glatzer, who co-wrote and directed the Alzheimer’s drama “Still Alice” alongside his husband, Wash Westmoreland, while battling ALS, died Tuesday in Los Angeles. He was 63.

Diagnosed in 2011 with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, the pair took on the project of “Still Alice” in a very early stage of Glatzer’s disease. During the 23-day shoot, Glatzer communicated with one finger using a text-to-speech app on his iPad. By the time of the press tour for the film in late 2014, Glatzer was only able to communicate by typing on the device with his big toe.

Their film earned star Julianne Moore her first Oscar for her portrayal of an academic suffering from early onset Alzheimer’s. Unable to attend the ceremony, Glatzer watched Moore’s win Feb. 22 from a hospital, where he had been taken two days prior for respiratory problems. Westmoreland watched by his side.

“I am devastated. Rich was my soul mate, my collaborator, my best friend and my life,” Westmoreland said in a statement Wednesday. He added that he takes consolation in the fact that Glatzer saw “Still Alice” delivered to the world.

“Richard was a unique guy— opinionated, funny, caring, gregarious, generous, and so, so smart. A true artist and a brilliant man. I treasure every day of the short twenty years we had together,” he said. “I cannot believe he has gone. But in my heart and the hearts of those who loved him he will always be alive.”

A New York native, Glatzer started out his career in academia, earning a doctorate in English from the University of Virginia before turning his attentions entirely to film and television.

He met Westmoreland in 1995. The couple collaborated on four films as co-writers and directors, including the 2006 Sundance Grand Jury Prize and Audience winner “Quinceañera.”

Glatzer also worked on a number of television shows including “Road Rules,” ”Divorce Court” and “America’s Next Top Model.”

But it was “Still Alice” that seemed to be Glatzer’s crowning achievement.

“It’s ironic that in my deteriorated state I’d be able to make a film that was creatively everything I’d ever wished for,” Glatzer reflected to The Associated Press in late 2014 while promoting the film.

The parallels between Glatzer and their lead character’s degenerative diseases helped to inform the adaptation of author Lisa Genova’s best-seller.

“Many of the neurological appointments that Alice had in the book echoed appointments that Richard had had when they were testing to see if he’d had a stroke — like what’s today’s date, where are we, all that stuff. It was eerily similar,” Westmoreland said during the same interview.

“Rich is an incredibly strong person, and never let the disease get him down. He always wanted to keep life as normal as possible,” he added.

Moore was particularly moved by the similarities and how Glatzer’s condition made the story much more personal and emotional.

“It’s about the universality of our own experience and what we care about and that we all live and we all love and we all are going to go away some day. To look at that and to really examine that, but to also be present in it, is kind of an extraordinary thing to do. I think that’s what Wash and Rich are doing with this movie,” she said.

While the logistics of co-directing a film while suffering from ALS proved challenging, the entire production was committed to supporting Glatzer throughout.

“We had a little personal agreement that Richard has to be heard, even if it’s inconvenient, even if it’s longer to wait,” Westmoreland said.

Glatzer, who was in good spirits sitting next to Westmoreland, also weighed in.

“I felt very much heard by everyone, every day. And it’s so very important if you’re struggling with a disease like this to feel you still matter,” Glatzer said.

In addition to Westmoreland, Glatzer is survived by his daughter, Ruby Smith; his sister, Joan Kodner, and her husband, David; and his nieces and nephews.

www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/11/richard-glatzer-dead-still-alice-writer-director_n_6852128.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices