Trans Activist Outraged By “Insensitive” Prison-Themed Pride Party For Gay Men

Trans Activist Outraged By “Insensitive” Prison-Themed Pride Party For Gay Men

costars and Sebastian Young, Johnny Rapid in Men.com's "Prison Shower" series.

Sebastian Young, Johnny Rapid, and Jack King in Men.com’s “Prison Shower” series

A prison-themed circuit party co-hosted by Masterbeat and porn conglomerate Kink.com is coming under fire by the PC Police ahead of San Francisco Pride this year, being labeled “insensitive” and “asinine” because it allegedly “celebrates” and “trivializes” the LGBT incarceration rate.

Feel free to roll your eyes.

The party, titled Prison of Love, is perhaps set to a prison theme because it’s being held in The Armory, a landmark in San Francisco’s Mission District that has become synonymous with kinky porn — the 200,000 square foot building houses the working sets and operational staff that run Kink.com, the world’s largest fetish pornography site portfolio.

Circuit queens love shit like this so much, they’ll be shelling out $75 to come dance, drink, and take selfies with mock prison cells on June 28, Pink Saturday:

Get incarcerated as The Armory Drill Court gets transformed into the world’s largest megaclub prison yard with thundering line array sound, full color lasers, hundreds of intelligent lights, moving truss, 3D-LED video walls, and the world famous production and performances of WE Party, KINK.com, Club Universe, Masterbeat, FRESH SF and XOXO … Grab your spot on the bunkbed and party in the prison yard with hot inmates, guards, bad boys, bitches, and muscle boys! General Admission tickets include access to the main event area and WE Party Prison of Love. Bring a cellmate, share the love!

This fun theme party marketed exclusively toward gay men, according to someone who composed a boycott letter on Twitter and a writer at Jezebel, the birthplace of misguided public outrage, is offensive.

One of them cared so deeply, she spent her Tuesday afternoon writing this:

Given the rates of incarceration amongst the LGBT+ community, specifically LGBT+ youth and LGBT+ individuals of color, this seems… well, like a really, really bad idea. Insensitive you might even say. Perhaps my favorite word of all: problematic.

Some opponents have even gone so far as to claim the party endorses “prison rape.” You can read their arguments in full here.

Kink.com CEO Peter Acworth, an extremely vocal supporter of sex workers and the sex industry, penned an eloquent response to the outrage. He makes a case for freedom of expression, notes the celebratory tone of the party, and agrees to tone down the prison language on future marketing materials:

I ask you to also consider the fact that sexual fantasy and BDSM have long been a tool used by those who have experienced real life trauma and oppression – including many members of the LGBTQ community – to reclaim the imagery and language of their experiences and alter the actual meanings of those words and images. Sexual fantasies may be catalyzed by real life events, but in no way do those fantasies represent or contain the same meaning as non-consensual, non-sexual real life power dynamics.

The party, as incorrectly indicated by Jezebel, is not sponsored by SF Pride. It is expected to go off without a hitch, despite threats of sabotage from protestors.

On Facebook, the party’s organizers said they’re ready to handle any type of outburst:

There is indeed a robust plan in place to assure our guests have a great time without interruption during this time of celebration.

Good thing there will be plenty of prison cells on hand.

Matthew Tharrett

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President Obama Includes Gay Dads in Father's Day Proclamation

President Obama Includes Gay Dads in Father's Day Proclamation

President Obama released a proclamationg for Father’s Day 2014:

Blue_obamaFatherhood is among the most difficult and rewarding jobs a man can have. It demands constant attention, frequent sacrifice, and a healthy dose of patience. Even in a time when technology allows us to connect instantly with almost anyone on earth, there is no substitute for a father’s presence, care, and support. On Father’s Day, we show our gratitude to the men who show us how to learn, grow, and live.

With encouragement and unconditional love, fathers guide their children and help them envision brighter futures. They are teachers and coaches, friends and role models. They instill values like hard work and integrity, and teach their kids to take responsibility for themselves and those around them. This is a task for every father — whether married or single, gay or straight, natural or adoptive — and every child deserves someone who will step up and fill this role. My Administration proudly supports dads who are not only present but also involved, who meet their commitments to their sons and daughters, even if their own fathers did not.

Today, let us reflect on our fathers’ essential contributions to our lives, our society, and our Nation. Let us thank the men who understand there is nothing more important than being the best fathers they can be.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, in accordance with a joint resolution of the Congress approved April 24, 1972, as amended (36 U.S.C. 109), do hereby proclaim June 15, 2014, as Father’s Day. I direct the appropriate officials of the Government to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on this day, and I call upon all citizens to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-eighth.


Andy Towle

www.towleroad.com/2014/06/president-obama-includes-gay-dads-in-fathers-day-proclamation.html

Michael Sam Signs Historic NFL Contract With St. Louis Rams

Michael Sam Signs Historic NFL Contract With St. Louis Rams
Michael Sam has taken another historic step toward realizing his dream of playing in the NFL. The first openly gay player ever to be selected in the NFL Draft, Sam has signed a rookie contract with the St. Louis Rams.

Grateful, humbled, and motivated after officially signing with all my Rams rookie brothers. Let’s do this!! #RamUp pic.twitter.com/quFCf01tJw

— Michael Sam (@MichaelSamNFL) June 12, 2014

The Rams announced on Thursday that they had signed all 11 players selected by the team in the 2014 NFL draft, including Sam. A first-team All-American defensive lineman from the University of Missouri, Sam signed a four-year, $2.65 million contract, with $46,000 of it guaranteed, reported Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports. All of the Rams’ rookie signees went through some financial education before signing their deals.

“With the new rookie cap and everything it’s really not difficult to get the deals done,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said Tuesday, via Nick Wagoner of ESPN. “So we just felt like this time would be better served putting them in situations from an educational standpoint, financial planning, those kind of things. We’ve done a lot of that.”

Sam, who came out during interviews with ESPN and The New York Times in February following a stellar season at Missouri, was the selected by the Rams with the 249th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.

While many believed that Sam, who had been named the 2013 SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, fell in the draft because he had announced that he was gay, he did not seem deterred by being the eighth-to-last selection of the 2014 NFL Draft in April.

Thank you to the St. Louis Rams and the whole city of St. Louis. I’m using every once of this to achieve greatness!! pic.twitter.com/QESdOJVzsw

— Michael Sam (@MichaelSamNFL) May 10, 2014

In his first press conference with the Rams, Sam made his aim clear.

“I’m determined to be great,” he told reporters.

www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/14/michael-sam-rams-contract_n_5494975.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices