Bruce Jenner Issues Statement After Fatal Car Crash
Reality star and former Olympic athlete Bruce Jenner has spoken out following a multi-car collision on Saturday that left one person dead and seven others injured.

“My heartfelt and deepest sympathies go out to the family and loved ones, and to all of those who were involved or injured in this terrible accident,” Jenner said in a statement released to Us Weekly. “It is a devastating tragedy and I cannot pretend to imagine what this family is going through at this time. I am praying for them. I will continue to cooperate in every way possible.”

Jenner reportedly rear-ended a Lexus, after the driver had rear-ended a Toyota Prius. The driver of the Lexus was killed, according to the Los Angeles Times, after their car was propelled into oncoming traffic.

Jenner passed a sobriety test and voluntarily submitted a blood sample. It was initially reported that paparazzi were chasing the 65-year-old’s vehicle, but police told CNN there are no signs that photographers played a role in the crash.

The Los Angeles Times reports that police plan to examine the cellphone records of the reality star and others involved in the accident to see texting played a role.

www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/08/bruce-jenner-statement-car-crash_n_6642284.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore Orders Probate Judges Not To Issue Gay Marriage Licenses Monday

Kyler Geoffroy

www.towleroad.com/2015/02/alabama-chief-justice-roy-moore-orders-probate-judges-not-to-issue-gay-marriage-licenses-monday.html

'Our Bitch Madonna' Performs 'Living For Love' At The Grammys
Madonna performed “Living for Love” — the inaugural single from her forthcoming album, “Rebel Heart” — for the first time at the Grammys on Sunday. Dressed like a matador and surrounded by topless men wearing bull masks, the iconic singer asked the audience to rise to its feet before exiting the stage through the ceiling.

Madonna was introduced by Nicki Minaj and Miley Cyrus, who chose the wise words “Let’s give it up for our bitch, Madonna! She made me call her that…” to do so.

Prior to taking the stage, the icon mooned the red carpet attendees.

The 56-year-old singer rushed to release “Living for Love,” along with five other tracks from “Rebel Heart,” in an official capacity after unfinished versions of two other tracks leaked in late November. Madonna hadn’t yet announced the album’s title or release plans when the initial leaks occurred, but she’s since set March 10 as the drop date. The song’s video, in which Madonna portrays a matador fighting off an army of men dressed as bulls, premiered last week.

Madonna confirmed via Instagram that she will also perform at the BRIT Awards on Feb. 25, three days after “Living for Love” is slated for release in the U.K.

This marks the second consecutive year Madonna has performed on the Grammy stage. In 2014, she joined Macklemore, Ryan Lewis and Mary Lambert to sing “Same Love” while a few dozen weddings took place on the telecast.

www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/08/madonna-grammys-performance_n_6614938.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

Madonna's 'Living for Love' Grammy Performance: WATCH

Kyler Geoffroy

www.towleroad.com/2015/02/madonnas-living-for-love-grammy-performance-watch.html

Slovakia's Anti-Gay Rights Referendum Flops Due To Low Turnout
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — A nationwide referendum on restricting gay rights in Slovakia has failed to produce a legally binding result after the required number of eligible voters did not turn out.

In Saturday’s vote, Slovaks were asked whether they agree to three points: that marriage can only be called a union between a man and a woman; that same-sex partners must be barred from adopting children; and that it’s up to parents to decide whether their children receive sex education. The vote was forced by the Alliance for Family, a social conservative group that received a massive support from the Catholic Church.

With all the votes tallied early Sunday by the country’s Statistics Office, voters in the predominantly Catholic country overwhelmingly voted “yes” — 95, 92 and 90 percent, respectively — to the three questions.

But turnout reached only 21.4 percent, far less than the 50 percent needed.

“It’s a success of Slovakia’s democracy,” said Silvia Porubanova, an analyst.

A leader of the alliance, Anton Chromik, said he was delighted that a clear majority of the voters who participated in the ballot supported the alliance and called it “a good base” for its further activities.

Romana Schlesinger, a LGBT activist said, she hoped the government will now work to make it possible for same-sex couples to live in registered partnership “because all our partnerships, our families are living without legal recognition or protection.”

Slovakia doesn’t allow same-sex partners to live in registered partnerships and the country’s constitution was amended last year to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

The vote in Slovakia — which follows a similar one that succeeded in Croatia in 2013 — points to a cultural divide within the European Union in which more established western members are rapidly granting new rights to gays, while eastern newcomers entrench conservative attitudes toward LGBT people.

___

Associated Press video journalist Philipp-Moritz Jenne in Bratislava, Slovakia contributed.

www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/08/slovakia-anti-gay-rights-referendum_n_6641666.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

Show That #LoveCantWait This Valentine’s Day

HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/show-that-lovecantwait-this-valentines-day?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed