WATCH: StoryCorps Founder Discuss Gay Dad in Inspiring TED Talk
Dave Isay won the $1 million TED Prize for a speech that included his gay father and his participation in the Stonewall uprising.
Neal Broverman
Daily Archives: March 26, 2015
Nicolette Mason Proves Why Queer Voices Matter In Fashion
Nicolette Mason Proves Why Queer Voices Matter In Fashion
The fashion industry is quick to embrace new trends, colors and styles. But when it comes to including diverse voices and physical representations, the stylish set still fails.
PBS Digital Studios’ “First Person” series sets up conversations about gender, sexuality and queerness in our cultural landscape. In this week’s episode, “Queering Fashion,” host Kristin Russo (of Everyone Is Gay fame) talks to writer and entrepreneur Nicolette Mason, BuzzFeed beauty editor and writer Arabelle Sicardi and Rae Tutera of The Handsome Butch.
The conversation touched on many fascinating points but an interesting exchange occurred when Russo asked what the fashion industry needs to do in order to change the narrow way in which queer style is defined.
“Personally, I would love to stop seeing the centering and prioritizing of thin, white masculine-of-center, affluent bodies,” Mason said.
While Mason added that that particular group should be represented, she continued, saying, “There are so many other identities and cultures and body types and shapes and expressions that exist in the queer community and they’re so rarely put front and center.”
Sicardi and Tutera agreed, noting that androgyny doesn’t necessarily mean looking masculine or feminine, but depends on how a person chooses to define it.
Watch the rest of the video above and catch up on “First Person,” which airs on YouTube on Thursdays.
American Civil Rights Leader Dr. Julian Bond Expresses Outrage at Anti-LGBT Bill in Arkansas
American Civil Rights Leader Dr. Julian Bond Expresses Outrage at Anti-LGBT Bill in Arkansas
Bond speaks out following HRC news conference in Little Rock
HRC.org
Towleroad Guide to the Tube #1713
Towleroad Guide to the Tube #1713
TED CRUZ: Top 10 little-known facts
PARTIES: What if people left them like they leave Facebook?
DISNEY LAND: How the magic was made.
JAZZ JENNINGS: Speaks out on the high suicide rate in the trans community
For more recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.
Kyler Geoffroy
www.towleroad.com/2015/03/towleroad-guide-to-the-tube–6.html
LGBT @ Waldwick H.S.
LGBT @ Waldwick H.S.
Immediate Examples of Backlash to Indiana's 'Religious Freedom'
Immediate Examples of Backlash to Indiana's 'Religious Freedom'
Major businesses and sports organizations are reconsidering their investments in Indiana after the governor signed a so-called license to discriminate bill into law.
Sunnivie Brydum
www.advocate.com/indiana/2015/03/26/immediate-examples-backlash-indianas-religious-freedom
Misusing religious freedom as a weapon of mass discrimination
Misusing religious freedom as a weapon of mass discrimination
Religious discrimination is a real thing.
History — both modern and ancient — is tragically full of examples of times and places where religious discrimination has been the source of persecution, death and destruction. The perversion of religion into a weapon of mass destruction is antithetical to the core beliefs of all the world’s great religions. And yet none of those religions have escaped the sad reality that human beings — given the power to do so — will use God as an excuse to inflict pain and suffering on other human beings.
Our forefathers knew that. And they brought that knowledge — that wisdom — into our Bill of Rights with a First Amendment that begins: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof …”
The First Amendment both prevents the government of the United States from privileging one religion over another and protects each and every one of us — as American citizens — to believe whatever we choose — or choose not — to believe about what God thinks, approves of or blesses.
It is what protects our democracy from becoming a theocracy. And, as we watch with sadness and horror the nightly news stories of religious wars and sectarian violence, this guarantee of religious freedom is something Americans of all religions — and no religion — should rejoice and be glad in.
What that guarantee of religious freedom is not is something to be distorted and exploited to further a homophobic agenda of legislated discrimination against LGBT people. But that’s exactly what happened today when Indiana Governor Mike Pence signed the so-called “religious freedom” bill into law during a private ceremony in his Statehouse office.
Officially entitled the “Religious Freedom Restoration Act” this bill will allow individuals and businesses in the state to deny services to LGBT people on “religious liberty” grounds – doing nothing to restore freedom and everything to bolster bigotry. It is the first of many proposed measures pending in statehouses around the country – all with the intent of allowing business owners and individuals to discriminate against LGBT people on religious grounds.
It is a dangerous and detrimental piece of legislation — not only for the LGBT Americans who are its direct target. It opens the door for discrimination, inequality and prejudice to nearly every citizen of every state, undermining the foundational American value of equal protection. It nothing less than an orchestrated backlash against equal protection for LGBT citizens and the flagrant distortion of the ideal of religious freedom into a vehicle for religion based bigotry.
Bottom line: The First Amendment protects your right as an American to the free exercise of your religion. It does not protect your right to use your religion as an excuse to discriminate against other Americans.
And watching the tragic consequences of genuine religious discrimination on the nightly news makes it all the more urgent that we stand together and speak against this and other pending legislation – and challenge those who are supporting it.
Because religious discrimination is a real thing. And this blatant effort to exploit it in order to attack LGBT citizens is a reprehensible thing.
Let the boycotts begin.
Tech Entrepreneur Max Levchin Speaks Out Against Indiana’s Sweeping Anti-LGBT Law
Tech Entrepreneur Max Levchin Speaks Out Against Indiana’s Sweeping Anti-LGBT Law
A cadre of celebrities, athletes, corporations and organizations has taken to social media this afternoon to decry Indiana Governor Mike Pence’s decision to sign a dangerous anti-LGBT legislation into law.
HRC.org
Sean Hayes And Hubby Are In “Trouble” With Jennifer Hudson And Iggy Azalea
Sean Hayes And Hubby Are In “Trouble” With Jennifer Hudson And Iggy Azalea
Actor Sean Hayes is no stranger to comedy, as his Emmy Award for playing Jack McFarland on Will & Grace will attest. But now he’s got hubby Scott Icenogle in on the funny business as the newlyweds deliver a spot-on lip sync to “Trouble,” the joint single from Aussie rapper Iggy Azalea and Grammy-winning powerhouse Jennifer Hudson. Hayes posted his own co-production of the R&B hit on his Facebook page earlier today. More of these please, fellas.
So, there’s this.
Posted by Sean Hayes on Thursday, 26 March 2015
Jeremy Kinser
News: Pope Francis, Jeremy Renner, Grindr Ghost Story, Harry Styles
News: Pope Francis, Jeremy Renner, Grindr Ghost Story, Harry Styles
Via NYT: “Fearing that Republicans will ultimately nominate an establishment presidential candidate like Jeb Bush, leaders of the nation’s Christian right have mounted an ambitious effort to coalesce their support behind a single social-conservative contender months before the first primary votes are cast.”
Vivica A. Fox joins the cast of Independence Day 2.
Southwest Airlines isn’t joining its air buddies in signing an amicus brief with the Supreme Court supporting marriage equality.
Pope Francis will visit the White House on September 23 and “discuss a broad range of issues, including poverty, the environment, religious freedom and immigration.”
Nancy Pelosi turns 75 today.
Microsoft’s UK CMO doesn’t understand why Ben & Jerry’s would speak out on gay marriage. “Do you think ice-cream has got an interesting voice in gay marriage? I find that a bit of a struggle. I don’t understand why Ben & Jerry’s have gone there…I wouldn’t make a different decision about my ice-cream based on my beliefs.”
What we know about Andreas Lubitz, the co-pilot of Germanwings Flight 9525.
Saturday Night Live announces April hosts Michael Keaton and Taraji P. Henson.
Fact Checker: Ted Cruz’s claim that there has been “zero” global warming in 17 years.
Jeremy Renner’s estranged wife is reportedly threatening to expose a bunch of “intimate videos” of the Avengers star.
Nate Berkus and husband Jeremiah Brent welcome the arrival of their daughter Poppy Brent-Berkus.
Introducing the most American playlist ever.
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, who earlier today signed the state’s “license to discriminate” bill, has declared a public health emergency for a county battling what is believed to be the worst HIV outbreak in the state’s history.
A ghost story for the Grindr era.
Idris Elba eyed for villain role in Star Trek 3.
The NFL is working to end all on-field slurs and hateful language…with one notable exception.
Jeb Bush positions himself to the right of his brother on reproductive issues.
The dream director for each of Madonna’s new tracks on Rebel Heart.
Will Harry Styles be the next member to leave One Direction?
Google sends reporter a gif instead of a “no comment.”
How Ellen DeGeneres is conquering Hollywood. “There’s something about Ellen and her voice that has people genuinely believing she’s telling the truth,” programming executive vice president at Telepictures, the company that oversees her talk show, David McGuire, told TheWrap. “She has an authenticity about her that comes through.”
Via Scientific American: “NASA Chooses a Boulder as the Next Destination for Its Astronauts”
It’s LGBT Health Awareness Week. Are you covered?
Kyler Geoffroy