Harry Potter Star’s Very Revealing Pic, Tom Hardy Will Sing As Elton, Streisand’s Tell-All

Barbra Streisand has been regarded as the world’s greatest star for probably longer than you’ve been alive, but the EGOT-winner and committed equality activist will finally write a memoir to set the record straight on all the myths and inaccuracies you’ve read about her during her six decades in the business of show. The book is scheduled to be published in 2017.

A stage musical based on the life of Elton John is now in the works, but you won’t see it before noted non-singer Tom Hardy takes center stage as the master showman in the film bio Rocketman: Fury Road. (Just kidding about the Fury Road part, but Mad Max would make a great costume for Sir Elton.)

Sam Smith is doing his part to make the world safe for gay people. “I like the idea that there may be homophobic guys who listen to my record and they have no clue that I’m gay!’ he told French mag Têtu. “I would like to become a voice for gay youth in difficulty around the world.”

Out filmmaker Todd Haynes, who is wowing the Cannes Film Festival with Carol, his lesbian romance starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, will next produce a TV series based on the Source Family, the real-life hippie cult that was the subject of the 2013 documentary of the same name.

The band Indiana Queen will change the way you think about country music. Vocalist Kevin Thornton and his real-life partner star in a steamy video for their song “With You.” You can watch the slightly NSFW video here. The group is scheduled to headline Nashville Pride next month and Thornton told HuffPo, “Gay people out there telling us how much it means to them to see themselves represented in country music.”

Matthew Lewis, who played the interestingly-monikered Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter franchise, leaves very little to the imagination in his photo shoot for Attitude magazine.

The title trumpeter in Allison Lane‘s “The Blowing Boogie Bugle Man from Company G” is so dedicated to the war effort that he puts the boys to sleep with his blowing every night, but be warned: he can’t blow a thing if Judy Garland ain’t playing. Michael Musto, Casper Andreas and Matthew Ludwinski costar in the bawdy parody video.

Speaking of Ms. G., a new book written by her former manager reveals a shattering first-hand account of one of the star’s numerous suicide attempts.

As usual, Ryan Murphy has assembled one of the most interesting casts imaginable for his upcoming series American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson. EW offers a first look at Sarah Paulson (above as Marcia Clark), Cuba Gooding Jr. (OJ Simspon), John Travolta (Robert Shapiro), David Schwimmer (Robert Kardashian), Courtney B. Vance (Johnnie Cochran), and Billy Magnussen (Kato Kaelin). FX hasn’t yet announced an air date for the miniseries.

That old saying “Another week, another Magic Mike XXL poster” holds true.

Jeremy Kinser

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/BCfGpTpa0ss/harry-potter-stars-very-revealing-pic-tom-hardy-will-sing-as-elton-streisands-tell-all-20150521

Voting 'Yes' to Irish Marriage Equality? Enjoy a Free Ride to the Polls

The world’s largest ride-sharing app says it passionately supports equality, and wants to help voters change Ireland.

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Thom Senzee

www.advocate.com/politics/marriage-equality/2015/05/21/voting-yes-irish-marriage-equality-enjoy-free-ride-polls

Franklin Graham Prays Ruth Bader Ginsburg's 'Eyes Would Be Opened To The Truth Of Scripture' For Same-Sex Marriage Vote
Prominent evangelist Franklin Graham wants Ruth Bader Ginsburg to finally “see the truth of Scripture” and vote against same-sex marriage as the Supreme Court gears up to rule on the matter next month.

Graham, who is the son of famous evangelical leader Billy Graham and president of the Samaritan’s Purse charity, took to Facebook to “pray” for Supreme Court justices as the vote approaches. Though nothing new for the staunchly anti-gay Graham, the evangelist showed particular audacity in his prayer for Ginsburg, which stated:

“Those who support same-sex marriage consider her an ally in their fight to toss God’s Holy Word aside. … let’s pray that Justice Ginsburg’s eyes would be opened to the truth of Scripture and that she would not be deceived by the arguments of those who seek to impose their ‘new morality’ on our nation.”

In addition to challenging the faith of Justice Ginsburg, who is the first Jewish woman to serve on the Supreme Court, Graham called Justice Sonia Sotomayor “misguided” and prayed that Justice Elena Kagan “see the danger of deciding to go against God’s law and standards.”

The evangelist also offered prayers that those justices less likely to support same-sex marriage, like Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, continue to “stand as a voice of truth and wisdom.”

The Supreme Court announced in January that it would take up the issue of gay marriage by addressing two questions: Whether the 14th Amendment requires states to license marriages for same-sex couples and whether it requires states to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex if their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed in another state.

Graham argued the court’s decision will have a “profound impact…on Bible-believing Christians in this country.”

Many commenters on Graham’s Facebook page, which has 1.4 million “Likes,” were quick to point out the separation of church and state in the country’s Constitution, as well as the lack of any statement on same-sex marriage in Christian scripture.

Others commented that the evangelist simply has no right telling Ginsburg — who has served on the court for over two decades and wrote a feminist commentary for the 2015 Jewish Passover festival — how to vote, let alone how to practice her own faith.

Ginsburg, 82, was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Clinton in 1993 and has challenged arguments against same-sex marriage.

“All of the incentives, all of the benefits that marriage affords would still be available,” Ginsburg said during an April hearing on the constitutionality of gay marriage. “So you’re not taking away anything from heterosexual couples. They would have the very same incentive to marry, all the benefits that come with marriage that they do now.”

Ginsburg is also believed to be the first Supreme Court justice to officiate gay weddings, according to NPR, and on Sunday May 17 the justice presided over the marriage of a same-sex couple in Washington DC.

A Gallup poll released these week found support for same-sex marriage nationwide has reached an all-time. According to the new survey, 60 percent of Americans are in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage.

— 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/2015/05/21/franklin-graham-ruth-bader-ginsburg_n_7364038.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

Ian Reisner Apologizes Again For Ted Cruz Debacle, Donates 20k To Fire Island Pines Group

It would seem that Ian Reisner has finally been thinking seriously about PR since news broke that he and business partner Mati Weiderpass hosted a “fireside chat” with vehemently antigay Senator and Republican Presidential candidate clown car occupant Ted Cruz at their Central Park penthouse last month.

Reisner, who has previously called the meeting a “terrible mistake” while also railing against the gay community for being “cheap” and “entitled,” has now issued a formal apology in the form of a (carefully crafted) letter to the Fire Island Pines Property Owners Association (FIPPOA) where he is a major investor. It’s interesting that his most heartfelt apology is directed towards a bunch of fellow rich gays, but the sentiment seems right.

In the letter, he again asks for forgiveness and pledges a strengthened commitment to gay causes, backed up with his wallet.

Here is the letter that was read aloud by president of FIPPOA Jay Pagano at a recent meeting, which was reportedly met with applause and approval:

Dear Members of our Community,

First I want to clear up that Mati Weiderpass has zero involvement or ownership in the Pines.

Now let me state unequivocally that I made mistakes. While my initial intention was bi-partisan dialogue about National & Israeli security, I’ve come to learn that intentions and outcomes are different things. The outcomes of my actions are that I’ve deeply hurt our community – and I am truly sorry.

In order to help build a stronger community I am taking the following steps:

– I am renewing and redoubling my commitment as an ardent supporter of LGBT causes.

– I will continue to invest my resources in the Pines, its cultural programs and activities that celebrate the diversity and acceptance of its community members, so that it always holds its rightful place in LGBT history.

– To this end, today I made a donation to the ‘FIPPOA-PAC’ — matching All funds raised in its last active year — which supports politicians committed to the Pines and to LGBT issues.

– More so, I will be donating profits from my Pines Investment this summer to the following organizations that I have supported in the past: The LGBT Community Center in NYC & The Jerusalem Open House, as well as to ‘Equality Texas’ which fights for LGBT rights on one of this countries more challenging fronts.

– Further, I am in the process of hiring a Director of Community Affairs to serve as a liaison with various LGBT organizations and to guide me in better serving our community.

– Lastly, I commit to meeting and consulting with community & organizational leaders, to hear their concerns and their ideas so that we can all work together for a better Pines and a stronger LGBT community.

Please accept these preliminary steps as assurance of my commitment to getting this right and to becoming the community member you deserve.”

Is it time to finally move on from this one?

Dan Tracer

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/k0jUkQneMfo/ian-reisner-apologizes-again-for-ted-cruz-debacle-donates-20k-to-fire-island-pines-group-20150521

Op-ed: Ireland's Marriage Decision Will Reverberate Around the World

If Ireland denies marriage equality at the polls, it could harm LGBT people everywhere.

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Chad Griffin

www.advocate.com/commentary/2015/05/21/op-ed-irelands-marriage-decision-will-reverberate-around-world

Girls Scouts Have Awesome Response To 'Family' Group That Wants To Ban Trans Scouts
A “family” group doesn’t want transgender girls accepted into the Girl Scouts of America, but the Girl Scouts sure don’t care.

Last week, the American Family Association launched a petition demanding the Girl Scouts rescind their policy welcoming transgender girls. The petition reads: “This means girls in the organization will be forced to recognize and accept transgenderism as a normal lifestyle. Boys in skirts, boys in make-up and boys in tents will become a part of the program. This change will put young innocent girls at risk.”

While the AFA is apparently just paying attention to the Scouts’ policies recently, the transgender-inclusive policy is actually four years old, Andrea Bastiani Archibald, the Girl Scouts USA’s chief girl expert, explained to CNN.

“Our position is not new,” she said. “It conforms with our continuous commitment to inclusivity.”

In a May 14 blog pot, Archibald noted that the scouts have “valued and supported all girls,” not just “one type of girl,” since the organization was founded in 1912.

“If a girl is recognized by her family, school and community as a girl and lives culturally as a girl, Girl Scouts is an organization that can serve her in a setting that is both emotionally and physically safe,” she wrote. “Inclusion of transgender girls is handled at a council level on a case by case basis, with the welfare and best interests of all members as a top priority.”

The AFA has collected more than 38,000 signatures, which ultimately amount to nothing.

— 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/2015/05/21/girls-scouts-transgender-girls_n_7371782.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

HRC Urges Boy Scouts of America to Adopt National Policy of LGBT Inclusion

Boy Scouts’ move to allow gay adults to participate in organization marks a moment, but falls short of goal of full inclusion.
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/hrc-urges-boy-scouts-of-america-to-adopt-national-policy-of-lgbt-inclusion?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed