WATCH: NOM Wants SCOTUS to Ignore National Support for Marriage Equality

Perhaps someone should tutor the folks at the National Organization for Marriage about how polling works.

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Matt Baume

www.advocate.com/politics/marriage-equality/2015/04/13/watch-nom-wants-scotus-ignore-national-support-marriage-equali

Indiana Hires PR Firm To Rebuild Image After 'Religious Freedom' Fiasco
WASHINGTON — The state of Indiana has hired a global public relations firm to help rebuild its image in the wake of national criticism that state politicians were hostile to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation, which leads the state’s efforts to attract and retain businesses, has retained Porter Novelli for an undisclosed sum. The firm’s task is to brand Indiana “as a welcoming place to live, visit and do business.”

“Now more than ever, we want to remind the world that Hoosiers welcome everyone and that Indiana is a great place for individuals, entrepreneurs and businesses to reach their full potential,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Victor Smith, who leads the IEDC. “That’s why we are moving forward with this initiative together.”

Brad MacAfee, president of Porter Novelli’s North America region, said the firm looks forward to communicating “the incredible and innovative story that is Indiana today.”

Late last month, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) signed a “religious freedom” measure into law that would have allowed any individual or corporation to cite religious beliefs as a defense when sued by a private party, potentially opening up the door to businesses turning away gay and lesbian customers for religious reasons.

Pence and the state’s GOP-controlled legislature faced a swift national backlash, with businesses, celebrities, LGBT activists and others criticizing the move and promising to keep their money out of Indiana. Politicians in other states took advantage of Indiana’s misfortune and encouraged businesses in the state to move to their locales.

Under pressure, Pence eventually signed a revised measure to clarify that the law does not allow businesses to deny goods or services to LGBT customers.

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/13/indiana-pr-firm_n_7056268.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

House Democrats Support LGBT Discrimination Protection Resolution

Today House Democrats announced a resolution supporting the adoption of discrimination protections for LGBT people nationwide.
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/house-democrats-support-lgbt-discrimination-protection-resolution?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

PHOTOS: Hot Mens Of Coachella, 2015

Another Coachella (round one) has come and gone, and with it an overload of social media uploads blasting FOMO onto the touch screens of those not in attendance.

The parties, the celebrities, the looks — oh, and what’s that other thing again?

Ohh, the music. Right.

We combed through #Coachella2015 on Instagram to bring you these fine specimens:

• happiness hit her like a train on a track • ???????????? • #daythree #coachella2015

A photo posted by Tyler Scheef (@tylerscheef) on Apr 13, 2015 at 8:22am PDT

Our random last minute trip to Coachella was a blast ???????? #coachella2015 A photo posted by sashanoon (@sashanoon) on Apr 13, 2015 at 8:23am PDT

???????? #coachella2015 ??????@lelepons with; @johnklarner

A photo posted by Lele Pons????Do It For The Vine (@lelefansvzla) on Apr 13, 2015 at 7:35am PDT

Having a blast as always with @rycurt48 #coachella2015 #coachella #friends #love #california #livingforlove A photo posted by Braulio Del Rey (@brauliodelrey) on Apr 13, 2015 at 5:27am PDT

#coachella with one of my favorites @maorluz #coachella2015 #friends #love #california #livingforlove

A photo posted by Braulio Del Rey (@brauliodelrey) on Apr 13, 2015 at 5:26am PDT

Coachella bound @cyfroice @gupessoal #coachella #coachella2015 #california #love A photo posted by Braulio Del Rey (@brauliodelrey) on Apr 13, 2015 at 5:24am PDT

#COACHELLA2015 recap #MensGrooming KARORA Gradual Self-Tanner #THESTYLEGUYDE

A photo posted by Steve Galindo (@stevegalindo) on Apr 13, 2015 at 4:54am PDT

#repost swiss crew rockin @coachella #coachella #coachella2015 #CoachellaLive #greatday #niceweather #greattime #friends #swiss #swisscrew #illjaz #BurimJusufi #b1world A photo posted by Burim B1 Jusufi (@b1world) on Apr 13, 2015 at 3:47am PDT

#Coachella2015 by this beautiful young man who inspired me to do alot even though he only exists on my computer screen and by the access of #Youtube go @joeygraceffa make the wildest #Spring on your own Looking Forward for your newest VLOGS ! FROM ONE OF YOUR #PSYCHOPATHS HAHA #joeygraceffa #coachella #CoachellaSelfie #fun #instapic #instagood #instafun #bestoftheday #YOUTUBERS #TeamInternet #photooftheday

A photo posted by ElwynPamittan (@elwynp) on Apr 13, 2015 at 3:34am PDT

#Coachella2015 // Style @rsimacourbe {#meninosnamoda #mensfashion } A photo posted by Meninos na Moda (@meninos.namoda) on Apr 13, 2015 at 3:12am PDT

Dan Tracer

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/aAgOkeHiyJg/photos-hot-mens-of-coachella-2015-20150413

House Democrats Introduce Resolution Against LGBT Discrimination

Kyler Geoffroy

www.towleroad.com/2015/04/house.html

Marco Rubio Is The Latest 'Anti-Gay' Republican To Announce A 2016 Bid For The White House
NEW YORK – A 43-year-old son of a Cuban immigrant is to run for White House, offering the Republicans a chance to build a more inclusive party than the ageing, listless and overtly white organisation that has fumbled the past two elections. Not quite. Marco Rubio, who announced his bid for the Republican nomination on Monday, is anything but an inclusive candidate. The senator from Florida …

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/04/13/marco-rubio-is-the-latest-anti-gay-republican-to-announce-a-bid-for-the-white-house_n_7055542.html?utm_hp_ref=uk-politics&ir=UK+Politics

Obama '08, Clinton '16
In my 20s, candidate Obama was right for me. Now, in my 30s, candidate Clinton will get my vote.

In 2007, I jumped into the grassroots effort to elect then-Senator Barack Obama as President of the United States. I signed up to serve as the Hell’s Kitchen petition captain blocks from my tiny midtown apartment and eagerly asked my fellow New Yorkers to help get his name on the ballot. I was a passionate 20-something who had marched against President George W. Bush’s re-election bid wearing a handmade muscle tee that read, “RNC — NY Rejects Your Homophobia and Hate.” I believed the country was on the wrong track, and my commitment to Senator Obama’s campaign was fueled by his message of hope and change — which was prominently inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans.

When I moved to Denver in late 2007, only one state allowed same-sex couples to marry. I served as the State Pride Director to rally LGBT Coloradans to the polls. I registered voters at Pride events. I cheered with all my might during Obama’s DNC acceptance speech in Mile High Stadium. I wrote each member of my extended family and asked them to vote for Barack Obama for President.

I cried years later when my president said I had should be able to marry the man I love.

Now I’m in my 30s, and I look at our country and want a different kind of leader as president. I hope to become a father for the first time while our next president is in the White House, so I will have a new stake in his or her policies and appointments. And America is in a different place than it was in 2008 — as are my views on what this country needs in a leader.

Our economy is no longer on the brink of collapse. Unemployment continues to decrease with each new jobs report. Our reputation globally has been repaired. Like most Americans, I want a president who will grow our economy, protect Social Security and Medicare, and make our education system the best in the world. I also am in the solid majority of Americans who, for the time in the history of presidential campaigns, want a president who supports marriage equality. And I want a president who will appoint justices to the Supreme Court who aren’t younger versions of Antonin Scalia.

And that’s why I want Hillary Clinton to be the 45th President of the United States.

Have you ever read Hillary Clinton’s bio? Just check out her Wikipedia page and count the number of “first” titles that she has held. First student commencement speaker at Wellesley College. First female law partner at Rose Law Firm. First female U.S. Senator from New York. She’s a passionate advocate, smart tactician, and role model for women and men alike. She has devoted her life to making this world a better place, especially for LGBT people. As president, Hillary Clinton could continue our momentum domestically while expanding the programs and policies she created at the State Department to advocate for LGBT people under a human rights agenda. Just think of the power of her historic statement: “gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights.” Secretary Clinton has the experience, track record, and political acumen to be a great president. No one else running can even compare.

Yesterday, Hillary Clinton formally launched her presidential campaign (which is the first to have an openly gay campaign manager, the talented Robby Mook). My apartment is no longer as tiny and I wear my old muscle tees to bed. Eight years ago, I was one of the millions of grassroots supporters who helped elect and later re-elect President Obama. Today, I commit to working just as hard to help elect Hillary Clinton as our next President of the United States.

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-cormier/obama-08-clinton-16_b_7054608.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

Magic Mike Goes To Twerk & Other Moments From The MTV Movie Awards

The MTV Movie Awards — the second least legitimate awards show (behind only the Grammys) — limped onto our screens last night with host Amy Schumer.  There were winners, awkward presentations, even more awkward acceptance speeches — in short, it was your typical Hollywood trophy snatchfest, except that it was on MTV so we had a lot more trash to sort through. Luckily, some of that trash was hot and shirtless.

Here’s all you need to know about the 2015 MTV Movie Awards.

Amy Schumer made a lot of Magic Mike vagina jokes

Seriously, a lot of Magic Mike-related vagina jokes
That Amy Schumer’s a one-joke pony — and here it is riding out of the theater
Thankfully Jennifer Lopez took the reins and commanded Channing Tatum to get to twerk

And backstage they all had their inaugural Ridiculously Attractive People Caucus with keynote speaker, J. Lo’s mug

Noted crooner Vin Diesel serenaded the audience

Zac Efron and Dave Franco got up close and personal

Real personalThere were some sexy crew guys hanging around all shirtless and sexy

“Cut To: Super Hot Cue Card Guy”

Judd Apatow had to eject a sassy seat/popcorn/scene-stealing seat filler

Model Cara Delevingne took matters — and an usher — into her own hand
Caughtcha!

 Les Fabian Brathwaite — and the one joke pony he rode in on.

Les Fabian Brathwaite

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/XyUP2Xwv2wg/magic-mike-goes-to-twerk-other-moments-from-the-mtv-movie-awards-20150413