So That Happened: Obama Asks Congress If It's Okay That He Started Fighting ISIS
So, that happened: This week, America’s ongoing battle with the Islamic State reached a new stage, specifically that stage where the president finally gets around to asking Congress if it’s okay with them that he started a war six months ago. HuffPost’s Jen Bendery joins us to give us the skinny on the latest edition of warmaking as a legislative farce.

Listen to this week’s “So, That Happened” below:

Are you a regular “So, That Happened” listener? Let us know! Tell us what you think of the show, what we’re messing up and who we need to hear more from. Send us an electronic communication at [email protected].

* * *

Some highlights from this week:

“Congress is in this place where, as one senator told me this week, they like to beat their chests and say ‘We’re the ones who control war authorization. It’s the constitutional right of Congress to do this. We’re the ones. We have the power. But … we don’t really want to do it. So, Obama did this. This is Obama’s war.'” — Jen Bendery

Meanwhile, closer to home, we have governors behaving badly: Sam Brownback of Kansas wants gays to experience workplace discrimination. Wisconsin’s Scott Walker isn’t sure he has the guts to talk about middle school science. And have you heard about all the nonsense that just brought about the resignation of Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber? We run down the nonsense.

“It’s been a weird uptick this week in governors kind of cold f*cking up left and right. Right?” — Jason Linkins

Finally, famous media people are leaving their famous media jobs. But did they jump, or were they pushed?

“Brian Williams — and this is true for most news celebrities — he’s only kind of famous. The only people who know who he is are old. He is on the “Nightly News.” Nobody watches that except for people over 65, so he’s not even a real celebrity.” — Zach Carter

* * *

We’re very happy to let you know that “So, That Happened” is available on iTunes. We’ve been working to create an eclectic and informative panel show that’s constantly evolving, a show that’s as in touch with the top stories of the week as it is with important stories that go underreported. We’ll be here on a weekly basis, bringing you the goods.

Never miss an episode: Subscribe to “So, That Happened” on iTunes, and if you like what you hear, please leave a review. We also encourage you to check out other HuffPost podcasts: HuffPost Comedy’s “Too Long; Didn’t Listen,” HuffPost Politics’ “Drinking & Talking,” HuffPost Live’s “Fine Print,” the HuffPost Weird News podcast and the HuffPost Entertainment podcast.

This podcast was edited by Ibrahim Balkhy and engineered by Brad Shannon, with assistance from Christine Conetta, Chris Gentilviso and Adriana Usero.

Have a story you’d like to hear discussed on “So, That Happened”? Email us at your convenience!

www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/13/so-that-happened-obama-isis_n_6670820.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

Model Boyfriends Strip Down For Adorable Gay Valentine’s Photo Shoot

For those of you not in-the-know, Nelson Marin and Marvin Garcia are both models for underwear brand Baskit and boyfriends in real life. They share more than the frame in this Valentine’s Day photo shoot by Rich Mackey Photography. As you’d expect, the couple gets cutesy sharing kisses and butt grabs. They can’t keep their hands off each other, and or their pairs of Baskit underwear.

Marvin is wearing a pair of Just /b/ Briefs, currently 50 percent off at $11. The bubblegum/grey contrast of the underwear looks great under the maroon pants he wears, and even better out of them. The cut forms to Marvin’s legs and backside nice and snug for a casually sporty pair of underwear. Nelson is wearing a red pair of Light Briefs, currently 40 percent off at $13. These briefs have a more masculine appearance. Their body is red, contrasted by a white waistband with the brand name repeating around the elastic in navy lettering.

You can see more of this photo shoot on The Underwear Expert.

Photo Credit: Rich Mackey Photography

Underwear Expert

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/4q1fu_NsZps/model-boyfriends-strip-down-for-adorable-gay-valentines-photo-shoot-20150214

Brandon Routh: 'Live Your Life, and Forget Other People'

The Arrow star talks about his new superhero suit, his LGBT fan base, and how he misses his gay role in Partners.

read more

Jim Halterman

www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/2015/02/14/brandon-routh-live-your-life-and-forget-other-people

Here Are The 10 Best Gay-Themed Video Games

Looking for a fun time? We’ve gathered some of our favorite video games with queer content here for you to browse.

Now before you get all bent out of shape: yes, we know there are far more than 10 great gay video games out there.

Which ones did we miss? Tell us your favorites in the comments and we’ll reconsider our ranking if a consensus emerges.

1. The Last of Us

It’s been said that zombie stories are allegories for American racial anxieties, but it would be interesting to examine zombie games and movies for subtext about sexual orientation. There’s no need for subtext with The Last of Us and Left Behind, which have explicitly queer characters, frankly depicted and without leaning on stereotypes.

2. Mass Effect and Dragon Age

It’s hard to think of two game franchises that did a better job of handling LGBT love stories. Bioware developed both, and did a magnificent job of giving players options to fall in love with characters of the same gender. As an added bonus, Dragon Age features a great trans character, and also lets you create your own characters with a wide range of gender expressions. Bioware also produced a KOTOR game with a lesbian character named Juhani.

3. Final Fantasy XIV

The latest installment of FF finally lets you craft same-sex relationships. About time, considering just how campy and gay some of those bosses are. This is a far cry from Final Fantasy VII, which featured what might be a pretty problematic depiction of gays in a hot tub.

“Why should there be restrictions on who pledges their love or friendship to each other?” said producer Naoki Yoshida.

4. Succulent

Suck a popsicle. That’s it. That’s all you do in this game. And yet it’s still oddly mesmerizing, with a hunky man in his underwear drawing you closer and closer as his frozen treat melts. Meanwhile, the sexy fellows behind him gyrate and rub themselves, until it’s too late to pull back and you discover that these homogenous gay body types are really a curse.

5. Hurt me Plenty

Created by Robert Yang, who also made Succulent, this game lets you simulate a consensual BDSM experience. You meet a sex partner, negotiate your terms, slap his ass around until it’s jiggly and red, and then engage in after-care. As an added bonus, if you have the right hardware, you can control the game with gestures, actually swatting your hand back and forth as though there’s a butt hovering right there in front of you.

6. Mount Your Friends

In this game, a bunch of floppy marionette-like figures wiggle around and try to climb on top of each other to make a pyramid.

Of course, they’re wearing just speedos, and their genitals are plainly obvious, swinging back and forth. Hot.

7. Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony

Well, duh. Gay is right in the title. This is an add-on to GTA IV, and it’s a chance to play in a slightly more rainbow-filled world of bad-behavior.

Tony is the naughty gay nightclub-owning member of the crime family we all know and love from GTA IV, and so the plot dovetails nicely with the main game.

You play as Gay Tony’s bodyguard, driving around and shooting people and blowing stuff up in pursuit of a cache of diamonds.

8. Final Fight

A vintage fighting game from Capcom features a lady named Poison in a sexy slinky outfit. For a long time, producers said that it didn’t matter whether the character of Poison was male or female, but she’s popped up in more games since then, and they’ve had to figure out a more specific backstory for her.

Now producer Yoshinori Ono has confirmed that Poison has transitioned from male to female. Her latest appearance is in Ultra Street Fighter IV.

9. My Ex-Boyfriend the Space Tyrant

A cute point and click adventure game, this game features lots of chiseled torsos and massages. You get to click around a futuristic spacey world and gaze lovingly on men’s nearly-naked bodies. You can even unlock a special mode in which all of the characters are in their underwear. It looks like Space Ace with all the rippling muscles, but plays like a Sierra game — perfect!

 

10. RuPaul‘s Drag Race: Dragopolis

The superstar queens from the TV show appear in this strangely captivating little iPhone game that’s actually a bunch of drag-themed mini games. You bounce balls around a grid, collect power-ups (wigs, beads, outfits, etc) and read the villainous Apocalypstik (played by Mimi Imfurst) to filth.

 

matt baume

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/2D3Ys0mRE7Y/here-are-the-10-best-gay-themed-video-games-20150214

The Art of Romance

A collection of romantic expressions from our art and photography portfolios last year.

read more

Christopher Harrity

www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/art/2015/02/14/art-romance