Trump Renominates Anti-LGBT Pol for Religious Freedom Ambassador
Sam Brownback’s renomination is one of several problematic ones announced today.
www.advocate.com/politics/2018/1/08/trump-renominates-anti-lgbt-pol-religious-freedom-ambassador
Daily Archives: January 8, 2018
Adam Rippon Makes History; Becomes First Openly Gay U.S. Olympic Skater
Adam Rippon Makes History; Becomes First Openly Gay U.S. Olympic Skater
Adam Rippon, who with his selection to the U.S. Olympic team on Sunday, will become the first openly gay U.S. American male figure skater to compete in the Winter Olympics when he travels to the games next month in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Rippon, 28, said that when he came out in 2015 he “started to own who I am as a person.”
“When I was young and still in the closet, I read a lot of articles about other people and their coming out stories and I watched YouTube videos on other people sharing their stories and that’s really what made me feel okay to be myself,” Rippon said during an interview with HRC.
“I told myself that if I ever had that platform to say anything, I would say something,” Rippon continued. “I think the more visibility we have as an LGBT community the more normal it becomes for a young kid who lives in a small town like I’m from—I’m from a small town in Pennsylvania. I think that if you can share your story, you bring more normalcy to whatever situation that someone young may be feeling that they’re in.”
Rippon also has a sense of humor about being a role model, joking that being a gay athlete is “exactly like being a straight athlete except with better eyebrows.”
“I’m so thankful for those other people who came before me and took those steps so that someone like me could read their story and feel okay,” Rippon told HRC. “I hope somebody who was in my shoes when I was younger can see me and have that feeling of, ‘yeah, being gay rocks.’”
Rippon will likely be joined in South Korea by openly gay Canadian pairs skater Eric Radford. Openly gay freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy is also expected to make the U.S. Olympic team. Kenworthy, who won silver at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, where he struggled with Russia’s oppressive anti-LGBTQ agenda, came out publicly a year later. HRC honored him with the HRC Visibility Award last year.
HRC applauds these incredible athletes and wishes them best of luck.
Coming out is a deeply personal journey that looks different for each individual. Learn more by visiting HRC’s Coming Out Center.
Sipping
New Lifestyle Brand ‘Phluid’ to Open ‘Gender-free Store’ in NYC
New Lifestyle Brand ‘Phluid’ to Open ‘Gender-free Store’ in NYC
New Yorker Rob Smith has launched The Phluid Project, a lifestyle brand he describes as “part fashion, part art, part community space, part conversation, part exploration and completely gender-free.” The company plans to open its first store in New York City in March.
Writes Smith on Facebook:
Last year, On March 1, 2017, I began a pilgrimage that would take me on a journey of self discovery as I gained a deeper understanding about who I am and where I fit in this world. On this journey, I gained clarity on how I want to live my life. My vision, to live a more honest, altruistic and authentic life, merging my profession and passion. I envisioned creating a space where I could leverage my 30 years of fashion with decades of work fighting for human rights.
This result of this discovery is of the called The Phluid Project. Phluid (fluid), because nothing is constant and we should always be challenging ourselves and eliminating boundaries. PH, because when we are balance, life is in balance, creating peace, love and acceptance of ourselves and others. Project, because it is a collaborative effort and I’m going in with a plan, but willing to learn and discover along the way.
The Phluid Project is part fashion, part art, part community space, part conversation, part exploration and completely gender-free. We will be the first ever Gender-free Store in the world, with a website to service our consumers product and conversation around the world. Half of the product is created by me and my team, with the other half from some of the worlds greatest and most innovative brands offering apparel, accessories, shoes, cosmetics and gifts. The store is 3000 square feet located in NOHO at 684 Broadway (cross street Great Jones). We open for business March 1, 2018…ironically one year after this journey began.
Smith’s full post:
The post New Lifestyle Brand ‘Phluid’ to Open ‘Gender-free Store’ in NYC appeared first on Towleroad.
New Lifestyle Brand ‘Phluid’ to Open ‘Gender-free Store’ in NYC
National Television Awards 2018: See The Full List Of Nominees
National Television Awards 2018: See The Full List Of Nominees
The shortlist of nominees for this year’s National Television Awards has been revealed and as of today (Tuesday 9 January), fans can cast their vote to decide who wins.
Returning for their 23rd year, the NTAs celebrate reality television, dramas, talkshows and soaps, and remain one of the very few places where ‘Game Of Thrones’ goes up against ‘Call The Midwife’.
‘Love Island’, ‘The Great British Bake Off’, ‘Broadchurch’ and ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ are also among the nominees, while Ant and Dec lead the TV Presenter category – one they have triumphed in for 16 years in a row.
The duo’s programme ‘Saturday Night Takeaway’ is also one of five shows nominated for the inaugural Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award.
Dermot O’Leary is returning to host the event, which will take place at London’s O2 on Tuesday 23 January. The ceremony will be broadcast live on ITV.
See the full list of nominees below and cast your vote to decide who wins here…
CHALLENGE SHOW
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
Love Island
MasterChef
The Great British Bake Off
CRIME DRAMA
Broadchurch
Line Of Duty
Little Boy Blue
Sherlock
TALENT SHOW
Britain’s Got Talent
Strictly Come Dancing
The Voice UK
The X Factor
DRAMA
Call The Midwife
Casualty
Doctor Foster
Game Of Thrones
Liar
TV PRESENTER
Ant & Dec
Bradley Walsh
Holly Willoughby
Phillip Schofield
FACTUAL ENTERTAINMENT
Ambulance
Diana, Our Mother: Her Life And Legacy
Gogglebox
Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs
DRAMA PERFORMANCE
David Tennant, DI Alec Hardy, Broadchurch
Jenna Coleman, Queen Victoria, Victoria
Sheridan Smith, Julie Bushby, The Moorside
Suranne Jones, Gemma Foster, Doctor Foster
Tom Hardy, James Keziah Delaney, Taboo
THE BRUCE FORSYTH ENTERTAINMENT AWARD
All Round To Mrs Brown’s
Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway
Celebrity Juice
The Graham Norton Show
SERIAL DRAMA
Coronation Street
EastEnders
Emmerdale
Hollyoaks
SERIAL DRAMA PERFORMANCE
Barbara Knox, Rita Tanner, Coronation Street
Danny Miller, Aaron Dingle, Emmerdale
Lacey Turner, Stacey Fowler, EastEnders
Lucy Fallon, Bethany Platt, Coronation Street
COMEDY
Benidorm
Peter Kay’s Car Share
Still Open All Hours
The Big Bang Theory
NEWCOMER
Danny Walters, Keanu Taylor, EastEnders
Nathan Morris, Milo Entwistle, Hollyoaks
Ned Porteous, Tom Waterhouse, Emmerdale
Rob Mallard, Daniel Osbourne, Coronation Street
DAYTIME
Loose Women
The Chase
The Jeremy Kyle Show
This Morning
TV JUDGE
David Walliams, Britain’s Got Talent
Paul Hollywood, The Great British Bake Off
Simon Cowell, Britain’s Got Talent / The X Factor
will.i.am, The Voice UK / The Voice Kids
Husband Charged With Murder of Trans Woman in Massachusetts
Husband Charged With Murder of Trans Woman in Massachusetts
Christa Leigh Steele-Knudslien is the first known transgender homicide victim of 2018.
www.advocate.com/crime/2018/1/08/husband-charged-murder-trans-woman-massachusetts
Being cisgender, white, and gay is no longer enough to make a guy interesting
Being cisgender, white, and gay is no longer enough to make a guy interesting
This is sure to ruffle a few (predominantly white) feathers.
Watch Wilson Cruz and Tuc Watkins Play ‘Perverts In Love’ In Exclusive ‘EastSiders’ Season 3 Clip
Watch Wilson Cruz and Tuc Watkins Play ‘Perverts In Love’ In Exclusive ‘EastSiders’ Season 3 Clip
Mad Men star Kit Williamson is back with another season of his razor-sharp web series EastSiders, available now on Netflix.
Following the ups and downs of the relationship between Cal (Williamson) and Thom (As the World Turns‘ Van Hansis), EastSiders has become a beloved series for boldly exploring queer stories with stirring performances, gut-wrenching drama and dark humor. The show’s devoted fanbase has already contributed more than $250,000 toward its crowdfunding campaigns, including $80,000 to support this most recent season.
EastSiders third season might be its most ambitious to date. Unfolding as a cross-country road trip, episodes were filmed on-location in 16 different states. New episodes also feature returning players Stephen Guarino (Happy Endings), Willam Belli (RuPauls’ Drag Race) and season-one star Constance Wu (Fresh Off the Boat) all back for more drama.
Of course, more fresh faces will be encountered along the way, like pioneering out actor Wilson Cruz. In the clip below, Cruz and fellow out actor Tuc Watkins play an older couple that inspires Cal and Thom to reflect on their own relationship.
The post Watch Wilson Cruz and Tuc Watkins Play ‘Perverts In Love’ In Exclusive ‘EastSiders’ Season 3 Clip appeared first on Towleroad.
Watch Wilson Cruz and Tuc Watkins Play ‘Perverts In Love’ In Exclusive ‘EastSiders’ Season 3 Clip
Kreise: Beim Thema Steuern kracht es zwischen CSU und SPD
Kreise: Beim Thema Steuern kracht es zwischen CSU und SPD
- Die GroKo-Sondierer hatten sich ein Schweigegelübde auferlegt – und dennoch werden erste Zahlen und Ziele bekannt
- Beim Thema Steuerpolitik soll es den ersten größeren Streit geben
Die Sondierungsgespräche von Union und SPD sollten ruhiger ablaufen als die Jamaika-Verhandlungen. Doch schon am zweiten Tag wird bekannt: Auch bei den GroKo-Sondierern gibt es Ärger.
Bei der Steuerpolitik kommt es laut der Deutschen Presse-Agentur zu einem erheblichen Konflikt zwischen der CSU und den Sozialdemokraten.
Die CSU lehnt nach Informationen aus Verhandlungskreisen vom Montag die Forderung der SPD nach einer schrittweisen Anhebung des Spitzensteuersatzes von 42 auf 45 Prozent ab.
Zugleich will die SPD die Einkommensgrenze, ab der der Spitzensteuersatz gilt, von 55.000 Euro auf 60.000 Euro Jahreseinkommen anheben.
Sachsens Ministerpräsident schießt quer
Bereits zuvor am Montag hatte der sächsische Ministerpräsident Michael Kretschmer (CDU) die SPD-Pläne kritisiert und von einer Umverteilung von Steuergeldern und zusätzlichen Belastung für Unternehmen gewarnt.
Unionsfraktionschef Volker Kauder (CDU) hatte umgehend versucht, die Äußerung einzufangen und sie als nicht berechtigt bezeichnet.
Die SPD ist irritiert
Es war nicht der einzige irritierende Moment an diesem Tag: Nordrhein-Westfalens Ministerpräsident Armin Laschet (CDU) sagte, dass das Thema Energiepolitik abgeschlossen sei.
➨ Mehr zum Thema: Union und SPD wollen Deutschlands Klimaziel für 2020 kippen
Die Sozialdemokraten reagierten überrascht auf die Äußerung von Laschet. “In der SPD herrscht Erstaunen darüber, dass ein professioneller Verhandler wie Armin Laschet sich nicht an diese Regel hält”, sagte ein Parteisprecher.
Der Parlamentarische Geschäftsführer der Unionsfraktion im Bundestag, Michael Grosse-Brömer (CDU), erklärte in Berlin, es habe noch keine Endergebnisse vorgelegen.
“Es ist nichts vereinbart, solange nicht alles vereinbart ist”, betonte der CDU-Politiker.
Das geräuschlose Sondieren scheint noch nicht zu klappen.
➨ Mehr zum Thema: Alle Neuigkeiten aus Berlin in unserem GroKo-News-Blog
www.huffingtonpost.de/entry/groko-sondierungen-streit-steuern_de_5a53e637e4b0efe47ebbe649
‘Next Of Kin’ Episode 1 Review: 10 Questions We Have After ITV’s New Drama Begins
‘Next Of Kin’ Episode 1 Review: 10 Questions We Have After ITV’s New Drama Begins
With ‘McMafia’ and ‘Hard Sun’ in full swing over on the BBC, ITV served up their first big drama offering of 2018 with new thriller ‘Next Of Kin’ on Monday (8 January) night.
Starring Archie Panjabi (‘The Good Wife’, ‘The Fall’), and renowned actor, Jack Davenport (‘Pirates Of The Caribbean’, ‘Smash’), it tells the story of the Shirani family who are shattered when their son, brother and father – Kareem – is abducted and murdered in Pakistan on the same day as a terrorist attack in London.
But it turns out Kareem’s death may just be the start of the family’s worries, as things about one of their other relatives begin to unravel.
The family are on the hunt to answers for many of their questions – as are viewers – and here are just a few of the ones we found ourselves asking after episode one:
Why has Kareem been killed?
After spending five months in Pakistan working for a medical charity, Kareem is on his way home to the UK when he is abducted and brutally murdered by a gang of men with guns. But why did they want Kareem dead, and what did they stand to gain?
Why hasn’t Danny spoken to a lot of his family in a long time?
Danny’s absence from his father’s welcome home party was initially brushed off as him just “being a student”, but it was then revealed he had become estranged from many of them, and had also been missing from university for six weeks.
In a conversation with Mona, Guy also stated Danny and Kareem had also had a number of “run ins”, suggesting a fraught relationship between father and son. But what caused this?
Have the police been watching Danny?
DCI Barnes of the Counter Terrorism Unit tells Guy and Mona they want to speak to Danny as soon as he gets in contact, before Mona questions how they even knew she’d gone to visit his university in the first place. This leads her to conclude the family could be being watched, with Guy then suggesting Danny could have been radicalised.
While Mona dismissed this, it would certainly support her own theory and explain why police are so interested in Danny.
How did Kareem’s first wife die?
While we’re not suspecting anything suspicious happened here (although we could be wrong), his mother’s death may provide a long-term reason why Danny has become estranged from the rest of his family.
How did Mrs Shirani get Danny’s number?
Danny’s family haven’t been in contact with him for a number of weeks, yet Mrs Shirani produced a new number for him that no-one else had. Had Danny been in contact with her previously? And why did she only produce it days after Kareem’s death, when she knew everyone else was desperately trying to contact him?
What is Danny doing in Lahore?
Danny had told Omar he was in Spain, but by the end of the episode, we learned he was in Pakistan, which is where his dad just happened to have been killed…
Did Danny have a hand in his father’s death?
Not only was he in Lahore, but Danny also admitted to Mona he already knew of Kareem’s death. Unless his grandmother had already spoken to him on his secret number, we’re not quite sure how he’d have learned of that, unless he had something to do with it himself.
Is Kareem’s killing linked to the terror attack?
To have the action set against a backdrop of a terrorist attack in west London has to be significant, and we wouldn’t be at all surprised to discover the events are somehow tied up with Kareem’s death.
Could Danny be involved in the terror attack?
It would certainly explain the Counter Terrorism Unit’s keen interest in him.
How long was Kareem’s welcome home party meant to be?!
Mona was seen on the phone to Kareem while she was on her way to his welcome home bash – but he was still in Pakistan. A quick Google tells us a flight from Lahore to London is 7.5 hours long, so why on earth had all the family gathered so early?
‘Next Of Kin’ continues next Monday at 9pm on ITV.
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/next-of-kin-episode-one-review-itv-drama-spoilers_uk_5a5379eee4b003133eca596d