Yvonne Strahovski’s ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ Character Resembles Female Trump Voters

The actress spoke about creating the villainous woman who suffers under the rules she helped create. 

www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/2017/5/19/yvonne-strahovskis-handmaids-tale-character-resembles-female-trump-voters

Gay Chechen Refugees Are Finding a Surprising Ally

With the U.S. dragging its feet, a small nation steps in.

www.advocate.com/world/2017/5/19/gay-chechen-refugees-are-finding-surprising-ally

Current White House Official is ‘Significant Person of Interest’ in Russia Probe

And another Friday afternoon news drop, courtesy of the Washington Post:

The law enforcement investigation into possible coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign has identified a current White House official as a significant person of interest, showing that the probe is reaching into the highest levels of government, according to people familiar with the matter.

The senior White House adviser under scrutiny by investigators is someone close to the president, according to these people, who would not further identify the official.

Things are heating up quickly, the story notes.

Guesses?

Current administration officials who have acknowledged contacts with Russian officials include President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as well as Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

White House at Night by Robert Scoble is licensed under CC 2.0.

The post Current White House Official is ‘Significant Person of Interest’ in Russia Probe appeared first on Towleroad.

Current White House Official is ‘Significant Person of Interest’ in Russia Probe

Sheriff David Clarke’s Possible Appointment to DHS Should Alarm Everyone

One of America’s most controversial and anti-LGBTQ law enforcement officials could soon be tapped by President Trump to fill a prominent role at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) — raising alarms with civil rights groups across the country.   

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. is claiming he will leave the office next month to accept a position at DHS’s Office of Partnership and Engagement as a liaison with state, local and tribal law enforcement and governments.

BREAKING: @SheriffClarke announces he will “accept an appointment as an assistant secretary in the Department of Homeland Security.”

— Alan Neuhauser (@alneuhauser) May 17, 2017

Although DHS has yet to officially confirm the Clarke’s claim, HRC and other civil rights organizations, including GLAAD and the Anti-Defamation League have expressed grave concerns over Trump’s possible pick.

Not only has Clarke’s tenure as sheriff been called into question following the deaths of four people — including a baby — under his supervision, but his long and expansive anti-LGBTQ record is just as abhorrent:

• He said that the Supreme Court’s ruling to legalize marriage equality nationwide would result in a conservative revolt against President Obama’s “socialist agenda.”

Encouraged to see that the sense of resignation over SCOTUS and modern lib cultural rot is turning to anger today. Next is rage, then revolt

— David A. Clarke, Jr. (@SheriffClarke) June 27, 2015

• He condemned Democrats and advocates for calling on sensible gun safety measures; following the tragic shooting at Orlando’s Pulse Nightclub shooting that took lives of 49 people;
• He said on his right-wing podcast that transgender people “suffer from mental disorders” and “live freakish lifestyles”;
• And he said a supportive mother of a transgender elementary school student was guilty of “child abuse.”

@VickiMcKenna Reference to the mother of a transgendered elementary school student tells me all I need to know about this story. Child abuse

— David A. Clarke, Jr. (@SheriffClarke) October 19, 2015

In addition to these extremely anti-LGBTQ statments, he’s also referred to Planned Parenthood as “Planned Genocide” and has insisted the Black Lives Matter movement would “join forces with ISIS” to bring down the U.S.

Clarke’s appointment to DHS would be a grave mistake that would cause undue harm to people across the nation. His homophobic, transphobic, racist and sexist views have absolutely no place anywhere, including and especially in law enforcement agencies or the federal government.

www.hrc.org/blog/sheriff-david-clarkes-possible-appointment-to-dhs-should-alarm-everyone?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Russian Lesbian Tells Inspiring Tale of Escape by Boat With Canadian Lover

Elena and Meg spent 10 months on the ocean in otder to be together, a story Elena shares in a new book.

www.advocate.com/world/2017/5/19/russian-lesbian-tells-inspiring-tale-escape-boat-canadian-lover

Family nanny loves her job, hates her fatphobic, homophobic boss–Now what?!
The father says horrible things about fat people, gay people, and poor people… and the kids have begun repeating it!

www.queerty.com/family-nanny-loves-job-hates-fatphobic-homophobic-boss-now-20170519?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Chicago Teacher Alleges He Was Fired After Being Outed and Harassed by Students

A teacher at a private Catholic high school in Chicago alleges he was fired after he was outed and harassed by students who found his online dating profile.

Matt Tedeschi, who taught religious studies at St. Ignatius College Prep, said a group of students outed him to the rest of the school and harassed him about his sexual orientation in the classroom and on social media.

Tedeschi said that he spoke to school administrators about the harassment by students and discussed the matter with the students but no action was taken.

After DNAinfo report, St. Ignatius College Prep officials deny that the firing of teacher was because he was gay t.co/8vdYUTsrEf pic.twitter.com/rsF3mICjm3

— DNAinfo Chicago (@DNAinfoCHI) May 18, 2017

According to DNAinfo, in April 2016, one of Tedeschi’s students wrote on Twitter: “Let’s not forget I have screenshots that can end you.” The student attached a photo from Tedeschi’s dating profile.

Tedeschi said:

“It just completely undermined my authority as a teacher and made me feel small. This unnecessarily pitted me against my students, which never should have been the case.”

In March, the principal informed Tedeschi that the school was not going to renew his contract. He was given the opportunity to finish out the school year but the school later called him to say that his employment was being terminated immediately. In exchange for the remainder of his salary for the semester, school administrators urged him to sign a nondisclosure agreement. However, Tedeschi declined.

RELATED: High School Teacher Resigns After Telling Student Newspaper: Gays ‘Deserve To Die’ – WATCH

According to the paper, the school cited “poor judgement” in posting a shirtless photo as a reasoning for letting Tedeschi go.

Arguing that he was fired because his sexual orientation, he said:

“In this place that prides itself on being a value-based school and teaches us to care for the vulnerable and marginalized, it’s precisely the same religious basis that allows horrible harassment to take place.”

In a statement released yesterday, the school said Tedeschi was not fired from school because of his sexual orientation. Spokesman Ryan Bergin said:

“Saint Ignatius College Prep must respect the confidentiality of the term of employment of its present and former faculty and staff members.

“Although I cannot comment on Mr. Tedeschi’s claims regarding his prior employment at Saint Ignatius College Prep, I can assure you that he was treated fairly at all times by the administration of the school, and we wish him all the best in his future career.”

Tedeschi has since been exploring legal options to fight his termination.

The St. Ignatius diversity policy refers specifically to “ethnicity, race, language, religion, gender, socioeconomic background, sexual orientation, body image, appearance, personality, intellectual ability, physical ability, and political beliefs.”

The post Chicago Teacher Alleges He Was Fired After Being Outed and Harassed by Students appeared first on Towleroad.

Chicago Teacher Alleges He Was Fired After Being Outed and Harassed by Students

WATCH: Trans men, X-Men, a gay icon and more

www.queerty.com/watch-trans-men-x-men-gay-icon-20170519?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29