Oregon Eases Birth Certificate Changes for Trans People
A bill signed into law by Gov. Kate Brown today will make the process simpler, cheaper, and more private.
www.advocate.com/transgender/2017/5/18/oregon-eases-birth-certificate-changes-trans-people
Chechnya Accused of ‘Gay Genocide’ in International Criminal Court
Three gay rights groups in France filed suit on Monday in the Internal Court to accuse the Russian republic of Chechnya of carrying out a “gay genocide” on its territory.
Stop Homophobie, Mousse and Comite Idaho France cited the case of a teenage boy whose uncle reportedly pushed him from a balcony for being gay as emblematic of the anti-LGBTQ “wave of persecution” taking place. The move comes as Chechen authorities continue to claim that no such persecution is occurring, despite numerous journalists’ and human rights NGOs’ accounts to the contrary since April. Activists in Moscow were detained last week as they sought to deliver a petition to investigate the reported abuses.
Etienne Deshoulieres, a lawyer representing the three gay rights groups, called [Chechen president Ramzan] Kadyrov “the architect” of a “genocide.”
He said the Chechen leader was “the organiser of torture camps with the desire to exterminate homosexuals.”
Alexandre Marcel, chairman of Comite Idaho France, said the complaint was “the only way to pursue Nazi behaviour” at an international level.
Although the Russian president had appeared to agree to an investigation following the intercession of German chancellor Angela Merkel, the official Russian position has been and continues to be to deny or downplay reports of the deteriorating situation in Chechnya, with one of its diplomats stationed in Israel most recently writing to Israeli newspaper Haaretz to protest its coverage. In particular, it dismissed claims of a detention center in the city of Argun:
In the building – which in the past belonged to the military government and called in the articles a “secret prison” – is a storeroom, while a parking lot is located on the nearby space.
There are no victims of persecution, threats or violence. Neither law enforcement authorities or the [UN] Human Rights Council of the president of the Chechen Republic have received complaints on this matter. The Human Rights Council conducted an inquiry of its own and did not find even indirect evidence of such accusations.
Russia in November 2016 announced its decision to withdraw its signature of the Rome statute, which established the International Criminal Court in force in 2002. The ICC complaint notes that there is one year before this takes effect; however, Russia has never ratified its inclusion in the ICC.
The post Chechnya Accused of ‘Gay Genocide’ in International Criminal Court appeared first on Towleroad.
Chechnya Accused of ‘Gay Genocide’ in International Criminal Court
Police Seek Suspect in Fresno Murder; Victim Said to Be Gay Man
Imer Alvarado, 34, was shot multiple times early Wednesday morning.
www.advocate.com/crime/2017/5/18/police-seek-suspect-fresno-murder-victim-said-be-gay-man
Joe Lieberman, Dennis Quaid, Beirut Gay Pride, Andy Cohen, Jussie Smollett: HOT LINKS
JOE LIEBERMAN. Former Senator emerges as frontrunner for FBI Director: “A person familiar with Wednesday’s meeting said Trump bonded with Lieberman, and the president left leaning towards the former Connecticut senator, who retired in 2013. Trump has not signaled otherwise that anyone else is the favorite, aides said, and has told one adviser he wants to make an announcement before he leaves Friday on his first foreign trip.”
SHE KISSED A GIRL. We now know who Katy Perry’s hit song was about.
SPICEY OUT. Trump is tired of Spicer: “The press secretary, who has turned into a household name over the past five months and garnered sky-high television ratings for his daily press briefings, has also drawn the ire of the president. He is no longer expected to do a daily, on-camera briefing after Trump’s foreign trip, the officials said.”
MICHAEL FLYNN. Former Nat’l Security Adviser may not comply with subpoena from Senate: “North Carolina Republican and Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr made the clarification after earlier asserting the committee believed he was refusing to comply with the Congressional subpoena. He said this was not a surprise, as Flynn had been giving the committee radio silence on previous requests even before the subpoena was issued last week. ”
ANOTHER PLANET. Trump thinks Michael Flynn might come back to the White House someday.
JUSSIE SMOLLETT. He wouldn’t wear clothes if he didn’t have to.
BEIRUT. Gay Pride a first in the Arab world: “Lebanon this week becomes the first Arab country to celebrate gay pride but the opening event in a landmark run of festivities was cancelled after Islamists threatened violence.”
BBC. Network says it will call the employers of internet trolls: “The section about “offensive or inappropriate content on BBC websites” continued by underlining that a publicly-funded British media corporation “may use your personal information to inform relevant third parties such as your employer, school email/internet provider or law enforcement agencies about the content and your behaviour.””
CASTING. Dennis Quaid to play George W. Bush in American Crime Story: “Quaid joins a heavy-hitting cast that includes Matthew Broderick playing Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Director Michael D. Brown (who was in charge of the government’s response to the disaster). “Brownie,” as President George W. Bush dubbed him, was handed the FEMA reins despite lacking any qualifications for the job and was perceived as being in over his head.”
BOOKS. The End of Eddy: “From the time Eddy, the narrator, is very young, he realizes he is gay. So, we assume, do his parents, though this possibility lurks only in the back alleys of their minds, unarticulated or obliquely expressed (his father, a flamboyant homophobe, calls him the name of a gay reality-TV character). So do the other children. “Pansy, sissy, wimp, girly boy, pussy, bitch, homo, fruit, poof, queer,” reads a partial, and printable, scourge of epithets he endures at school.”
NEW TUNE OF THE DAY. Selena Gomez “Bad Liar” – samples Talking Heads.
JEFFREY TAMBOR. Ryan Seacrest mistakes him for “The scary guy on the subway in Ghost.”
IT’S VERY SWEET. Andy Cohen tasted Amber Tamblyn’s breast milk. “That’s the closest to a breast I’ve ever been.”
TENNESSEE. A parent brawl broke out at a high school graduation.
THIRSTY THURSDAY. Roy Plaza.
The post Joe Lieberman, Dennis Quaid, Beirut Gay Pride, Andy Cohen, Jussie Smollett: HOT LINKS appeared first on Towleroad.
Joe Lieberman, Dennis Quaid, Beirut Gay Pride, Andy Cohen, Jussie Smollett: HOT LINKS
Reported Homeland Security Appointee Has Denounced Marriage Equality, Black Lives Matter
Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke is a firebrand beloved by the far right.
Erm, so this is a new song by Ariana Grande’s gay brother, Frankie. What do you think?
“I’m an icon, baby!”
Bob the Drag Queen, Detox and Other ‘Drag Race’ Queens Hit the Big Screen in ‘Cherry Pop’
Gentlemen, start your engines, and may the best woman win … an Oscar?
In the tradition of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, the next great piece of drag cinema is coming this summer. Cherry Pop tells the story of one night in a failing drag bar and the charismatic, unique, talented queens that perform there.
The raucous comedy features more than a few familiar faces. Fans of RuPaul’s Drag Race will recognize the beloved winner of season eight, Bob the Drag Queen, as well as other former contestants Tempest DuJour, Detox and Latrice Royale.
The film will premiere as part of NYC Pride’s OutCinema event on June 19. (Tickets available here.) Additional screenings in San Francisco and Los Angeles will be held later this summer. The film will be available nationwide via video on-demand this fall.
The post Bob the Drag Queen, Detox and Other ‘Drag Race’ Queens Hit the Big Screen in ‘Cherry Pop’ appeared first on Towleroad.
Bob the Drag Queen, Detox and Other ‘Drag Race’ Queens Hit the Big Screen in ‘Cherry Pop’
Chelsea Manning Publishes First Post-Prison Portrait: “Hello World”
No more sketches! The transgender whistleblower unveiled a glowing new photograph of herself after her release from prison.
www.advocate.com/people/2017/5/18/chelsea-manning-publishes-first-post-prison-portrait-hello-world
