Carly Fiorina Says Americans Should Accept SCOTUS Ruling on Marriage, Won't Oppose It: VIDEO

Andy Towle

www.towleroad.com/2015/05/fiorinafma.html

Woman Confronts Church Members About Homophobic Sign
Cate Dobbins wants a word with the head of the church that put up a homophobic sign in her neighborhood, but so far the pastor has ignored her request.

Dobbins started an online petition on Friday, calling on the First Conservative Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida, to remove a sign on its property that read, “Homosexuals Must Repent Or Go To Hell.”

The petition garnered nearly 200 signatures in two days, Dobbins said. She also reached out to the church and left a message with the pastor, but he had not returned her call as of Monday morning.

“NOWHERE in the bible does it mention gays and hell in the same sentence,” she wrote on the Change.org petition. “There is no place in Jacksonville for such an ignorant and hatred-filled sign.”

Dobbins, a travel agent originally from New York, said she was raised Catholic, and took issue with the sign’s misreading of Biblical teachings.

“I’m all for the First Amendment,” she told The Huffington Post on Monday, “but their sign was inaccurate. … For a church to be so un-Christian, that really put me over the edge.”

The church has not responded to a HuffPost request for comment. The pastor of the church refused to speak with press over the weekend but sent Action News a letter stating: “I was aware of the controversy from the sign, but this church feels it is needful to keep our citizens informed and be relevant through the word of God.”

Dobbins went to the church on Sunday to deliver her petition to the pastor but was stopped by congregants, as shown in the footage above.

“You obviously do not know your scripture, so you need to leave,” one churchgoer is heard saying off camera. “This is private property.”

The church’s secretary informed her that the sign is changed every Monday morning, Dobbins said, but she had not yet checked on it as of speaking with HuffPost. Whether the church puts up a new sign or not, Dobbins said, she hopes to engage the pastor in conversation and ask him why he allowed such an antagonistic sign to go up.

“I would like to speak with him and say, ‘You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. If you’re really concerned that homosexuals are going to hell you should talk to them, not put up a sign that offends them so deeply.'”

— 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/2015/05/11/florida-church-homophobic-sign_n_7257268.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

Gay NYC Hotelier Who Hosted Ted Cruz Scraps The Apologies, Attacks “Gay Extremists” Instead

After NYC hoteliers Ian Reisner and Mati Weiderpass hosted a ‘fireside chat’ with vehemently anti-gay Senator and Republican Presidential candidate clown car occupant Ted Cruz at thier Central Park penthouse last month, the out business partners have been met with backlash and boycotts from the gay community.

Reisner was quick to respond, first calling the dinner party a “terrible mistake.” He wanted everyone to know he wasn’t entirely aware of Cruz’s politics before agreeing to co-host, because his multimillion dollar penthouse is apparently located underneath a rock. “I’ve spent the past 24 hours reviewing videos of Cruz’ statements on gay marriage and I am shocked and angry,” he said.

Well now Weiderpass is speaking out with a decidedly different take.

In an op-ed in the Observer, he calls out the “gay extremists” who don’t understand the virtues of breaking bread with someone like Cruz who has proudly boasted about his “proven record of standing and fighting to protect traditional marriage between one man and one woman.” In the same week as the dinner, Cruz filed two bills to halt same-sex marriage.

So which is it? A “terrible mistake” or an intentional engagement with the opposition? Because it can’t be both.

“I hosted a United States Senator Presidential candidate and asked him how he would feel if his daughter were to tell him she was lesbian,” Weiderpass writes. “How often do you think he has been asked that?” 

We suppose we should be thanking you?

If anything, the meeting provided an opportunity for Cruz to get out and show how weighted his stance on gay issues is — presidential if you will. Some of his best friends are gay, he can’t possibly be a bigot.

After the story broke in the Times, Cruz said, “I know it’s been a long time since we’ve seen it, but this is what it means to truly be a ‘big tent Republican’ instead of a panderer.”

The duplicity and empty talk from Cruz, Reisner and Weiderpass make us think the three might actually be perfect for one another.

Dan Tracer

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/sFlGwfrJIfU/gay-nyc-hotelier-who-hosted-ted-cruz-scraps-the-apologies-attacks-gay-extremists-instead-20150511

Priests Bless Gay Couples in Symbolic Wedding as 1000+ LGBT People March Through Havana: VIDEO

Andy Towle

www.towleroad.com/2015/05/bbccuba.html

Adele Spends Her Birthday in Drag – as George Michael

“I was my hero,” the singer tweets.

read more

Gina Vivinetto

www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/music/2015/05/11/adele-spends-her-birthday-drag-george-michael

Five Gay Men On HIV PrEP Explain Why They Are Taking The Pill
So much of the conversation about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been reduced to labeling the people taking PrEP (“Truvada whore,” and more) instead of listening to them. Queerty wanted to get past those labels, so we spoke to five gay men on PrEP about why they chose to take a pill to prevent HIV infection — and their thoughts on the debate about it and the changes in their sexual lives that it inspired.

We came away with a broader, more human perspective on why this choice works for so many gay men.

— 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/2015/05/11/gay-men-explain-prep_n_7257200.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

Willam Chats About Straight Crushes, Gay Family, Favorite Lube & More

Willam Belli holds the distinct honor of being the only queen ever disqualified from RuPaul‘s Drag Race, and that title, alongside her in-your-face attitude and formidable comedy chops, seems to have served her just as well as winning the crown. Minus the whole $100k part.

Since her wonderfully disgraceful exit from the show, Willam has cropped up in popular YouTube videos like “Boy Is A Bottom” and the highly educational multicultural followup, “Es Una Pasiva.” She’s also racked up an impressive list of TV and film credits, including a part in fellow RPDR alum Bianca Del Rio’s upcoming Hurricaine Bianca.

On May 23rd she’ll appear at the iconic Castro Theater in San Francisco for The Drag Queens Of Comedy alongside Bianca, Alaska, Michelle Visage and a bevy of gut-splitting queens. There will be two shows that night at 7 and 10 p.m., but get your tickets soon because you won’t want to miss these bitches.

We caught up with Willam to talk about her roots, the show, and if she prefers silicone or water-based products — you know, the important issues of the day.

Queerty: Where are you from?

Willam: I live in Inglewood.

Where do you consider home to be?

I’m a citizen of the world but I get mail in L.A.

Tell us about the first time you put on full drag. How old were you? What was the look?

I remember being 6 or 7 and piling on my one-eyed great aunt’s costume jewelry and furs. She was from Jersey so there was a lot to play with. The look was eclectic and very community theater dowager.

Who were your gay role models growing up?

My lesbian aunt and my gay uncle made it really easy for me to see that gay was a normal thing. I remember she was pissed I turned off a Gloria Estefan video because she liked her.

What about your first crush?

I wanted to marry all of New Kids on The Block. Now I just want to fuck one of them (Danny).

Were you picked on as a kid?

I was quite overweight but I wasn’t picked on much. I always had a slick mouth and my sister was one grade ahead of me and friends with all the kids who would’ve been inclined to be douches to me.

Do you have a drag mother?

No. But I had someone who steered me early on, sneaking me into clubs and was very kind to me though. His name is Momma and he is an L.A. staple.

Who are some of your favorite queens to work with?

I like working with Courtney Act, Alaska Thunderfuck, Bianca del Rio and Michelle Visage. Oh, Logan Hardcore is a hoot, too. And all the girls at Play in Nashville and S4 in Dallas.

When did you start acting?

My first paid acting gig was at 16.

What was the first time your drag wold and your acting world collided?

My first paid gig when I was 16 was an MTV show that I was in drag for.

I read somewhere Divine is one of your inspirations.

He is. I want to bring that shock and in-your-faceness that he had back to drag.

What’s your favorite John Waters movie?

My favorite John Waters movie is probably Cry-Baby.

Do you have a straight guy crush?

My straight guy crush is Blake Griffin (he plays basketball).

If California runs out of water where would you go to find something to drink?

I haven’t paid for a drink in a gay bar in three years. So a bar.

Have you been watching Drag Race season seven? Anyone you’d put money on?

I like Turtles.

No one loves Ru more than us, but did you ever get tired of calling everything Ru-this and Ru-that on the show?

I think this question calls for a Rupaulogy.

Tell us about the show Drag Queens of Comedy 2015 at the Castro Theater (May 23, 2015) — what can we expect?

It’s interesting to see what each performer does. Like if someone’s act bombs, do you still call it stand up comedy or just a spoken word performance?

We’ll go ponder that in the woods later, but in the mean time let’s play a little rapid-fire:

Taylor Swift or Robyn?

Robyn

Little Shop of Horrors or Rocky Horror?

Rocky Horror

Leather or latex?

Leather

Looking or Transparent?

Neither

Can balls be sexy?

Sure

Sam Smith or Adam Lambert?

Adam

Martha or Oprah?

Martha

Silicone or water-based?

Silicone

Grindr or Scruff?

Jack’d

Great, we know where to find you! Thanks for playing.

Dan Tracer

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/9efn3lxbPec/willam-chats-about-straight-crushes-gay-family-favorite-lube-more-20150511

Atlanta Megachurch Pastor Rejects His Father’s Offensive Anti-Gay Bigotry: VIDEO

Jim Redmond

www.towleroad.com/2015/05/atlanta-megachurch-pastor-rejects-his-fathers-offensive-anti-gay-bigotry-video-.html

Prince Manvendra, The World's First Openly Gay Prince, Fights For LGBT Rights In India
In 2006, the Crown Prince of one of India’s oldest royal families made a public announcement that made headlines around the world: the 40-year-old formerly married Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil was actually gay. This announcement made Prince Manvendra the world’s only openly gay prince — and it also outraged his community and ripped his family apart. His father refused to accept the Prince’s homosexuality, and his mother, the Queen, took out an ad in the newspaper to publicly disown her only son. What’s more, Prince Manvendra was also risking his own freedom, as homosexual acts in his country were punishable by 10 years to life in prison.

Still, Prince Manvendra remained determined to live in his truth. He opened up about the difficulties he faced during a 2007 episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” telling the talk show host what it was like growing up with this secret in an ancient royal family and a country that condemned homosexuality.

“I couldn’t talk to anyone, couldn’t share my views to anyone. So, I was confused whether I’m the only one like that or are other people like me or was it kind of a disease?” Prince Manvendra said back then. “I thought, ‘Maybe it’s a passing phase. I might get over it once I’m married.’ And that’s the reason I decided to get married.”

Though the marriage was arranged, Prince Manvendra emphasized that he was never forced to wed a woman. Once the relationship crumbled, he came to terms with his sexuality and began to find happiness in his new mission in life: working on behalf of the gay community in India.

Three years later, Prince Manvendra appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” again and shared some dramatic updates: his mother didn’t “create any obstacles” for him anymore, his father recanted the disownment and various cities in India began coordinating gay pride parades. What’s more, India had removed its law about homosexual acts and no longer made them punishable by prison time.

“I never expected that this [would] happen in my lifetime,” Prince Manvendra said.

“Oprah: Where Are They Now?” recently caught up with the Prince once again to see what else has changed in the years since his final “Oprah Show” appearance. This time, however, the updates aren’t as optimistic as they once were. Namely, the law criminalizing homosexual acts in India has been reinstated once again.

“We’ve gone back to square one, to 150 years,” Prince Manvendra now says in the above video. “That period of four and a half years when we had enjoyed our freedom has been suddenly snatched away from us.”

The impact, he adds, has been frightening.

“When I say that the homosexuals are not free in India, we don’t have the freedom to love. All of us are scared,” Prince Manvendra says. “Imagine those who have fallen in love, they’ve had partners in their lives, they’ve had boyfriends, they want to go for long-term relationships — are now all scared. That’s where we are losing our freedom.”

To raise awareness about India’s anti-gay laws, Prince Manvendra launched a grassroots campaign called Free Gay India in 2014.

“The Free Gay India campaign is aimed at the law which is criminalizing the homosexual population in India,” he explains. “We would like to connect more and more people into it.”

Learn more about Free Gay India.

As for his relationship with his mother, the Prince says that not much has changed over the years.

“She still doesn’t talk to me. We almost ran into each other in the palace, but, of course, we kind of ignore each other as if we don’t exist,” he says. “I have always respected her. I have no ill feelings towards her, but I would never do anything to go against her.”

In the meantime, Prince Manvendra says he is grateful for the support he’s gotten from America, and he remains focused on helping the gay community in India achieve the rightful freedom they once had.

“Oprah: Where Are They Now?” airs Saturdays at 10 p.m. ET on OWN.

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