Monthly Archives: July 2015
How Would TV's Superheroes React to Marriage Equality?
How Would TV's Superheroes React to Marriage Equality?
The heroes and villains of The Flash, Arrow, and Supergirl reveal how their character would’ve reacted to the Supreme Court’s marriage equality decision.
Jase Peeples
Senate Fails LGBT Youth: One Educator's Reaction
Senate Fails LGBT Youth: One Educator's Reaction
As a teacher in an urban public school system, I am used to being disappointed by politicians. They have failed our children time and time again, from the overwhelming gaps in resources between wealthy and impoverished districts to the failed promises and policies of No Child Left Behind. Although it’s easy to feel powerless in my position on the front lines of education, I’ve learned to let go of things I can’t control and focus on what I can: my classroom, where all students thrive and my LGBT students are protected, not just by my own classroom rules, but also by district measures that extend anti-bullying policies to include sexual orientation and gender identity.
On Tuesday, July 14th, the United States Senate failed our children yet again, voting against the Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA), a policy that would prohibit schools from discriminating against students based on their sexual or gender orientation. When I first learned of the Senate’s ruling, I was floored. I think I’m still in a bit of shock and disarray; it’s hard for me to imagine how or why this measure didn’t pass. After all, don’t all youth across our nation deserve to receive the same protections and benefits? When studies prove that our students are more at risk, don’t our politicians have a social and moral responsibility to protect them?
As an educator, as a GSA advisory, as someone who works directly with LGBT youth on a daily basis, I am simply at a loss for words as to how 100 individuals in a room could not reach a majority consensus on the importance of all students’ safety in schools, especially students who are — according to numerous studies — at large risk for depression, suicide and homelessness as a result of bullying. In my search to make some sense of this decision, I have discovered two possible explanations, both of which can be summed up in one sentence: politicians are so far removed from our education system that they have no idea what is actually happening in it.
Some politicians believe that “these matters” are best handled at the local level. The problem with that rationale is that many states in our country are simply not doing anything to support our LBGT youth at all. Administrators and local districts are ignoring their LGBT populations and sweeping instances of violence in schools under the rug. Many acts of bullying go unreported, not just by youth who are intimidated by their oppressors, but also by administrators who handle things “in house.”
Leaving anti-bullying policies up to the localities — many of which are still largely anti-LGBT in general — opens our youth to an unimaginable vulnerability. According to the HRC’s “Growing Up Gay In America” survey, 42 percent of LGBT youth report that their community is not accepting of LGBT persons. How can anyone expect communities who cling to conservative values to stand up for their LGBT youth? Many administrators are not able to leave their Bibles and their personal biases at the door; therefore, our youth are attacked, neglected, and ignored. Without national legislation to hold them accountable, we simply can not trust administrators, counselors, teachers, and local school districts to be unbiased in their approach to the bullying of LGBT youth.
Some politicians believe that Title IX already provides protections for LGBT youth, interpreting the word “sex” to extend to sexual orientation and gender identity. The flaw in this argument is that an overwhelming majority of our states are not operating under this interpretation. According to GLSEN’s recently released report, “From Statehouse to Schoolhouse: Anti-Bullying Policy Efforts in U.S. States and School Districts”, only one in 10 school districts has a policy that explicitly includes protections for students based upon actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. What’s even more alarming is that nearly 30 percent of school districts have no anti-bullying policy at all. Without explicit legal protection, these students are left feeling hopeless and powerless in the hands of their bullies, their school policies, and their communities. Taking into account urban students — many of whom straddle economic and racial minority status in addition to sexual and gender minority status — it’s not hard to see that our education system is failing. Big time. Our students fight enough fights. They deserved this victory.
I am privileged to teach in the District of Columbia, where my LGBT students and their allies are protected under discrimination laws that extend to sexual orientation and gender identity; however, an overwhelming majority of states do not have these same protections in place for their LGBT youth population. Leaving our LGBT youth in the hands of their local governments, many of whom are biased against their own LGBT population, is not just irresponsible or ignorant: it’s negligent.
In a country where marriage equality itself is a victory, this decision shines light on the fact that we are far from the mark of LGBT equality. Our youth need and deserve our movement’s attention. Parents and community members must advocate on behalf of their youth. LGBT students, families, teachers, and their allies must link in arms and take up this cause. We must, as a movement, come together and demand our state and local districts to include explicit policies for our youth since our national policymakers will not. To do otherwise is a great injustice to the very students who need it most.
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REVIEW: The Old Shoreditch Station – Shoreditch, London
REVIEW: The Old Shoreditch Station – Shoreditch, London
With a prominent position on the corner of Shoreditch High Street and Old Street, The Old Shoreditch Station helps define the hipster vibe that this area is renowned for.
Whether you need coffee or a beer, whatever time of day, this is the kind of cafe that you dream of having in your neighborhood.
The post REVIEW: The Old Shoreditch Station – Shoreditch, London appeared first on Gay Star News.
Gareth Johnson
www.gaystarnews.com/article/review-the-old-shoreditch-station-shoreditch-london/
Nigerian President Headed to the White House
Nigerian President Headed to the White House
Ahead of next week’s visit by President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria to the United States, HRC has compiled a briefing sheet about the current situation facing the Nigerian LGBT community.
HRC.org
Pastor Single-Handedly Saves Church. Oh, He’s Gay? He’s Fired!
Pastor Single-Handedly Saves Church. Oh, He’s Gay? He’s Fired!
When Benjamin Hutchison was hired as a pastor at Cassopolis United Methodist Church in Southwest Michigan, the church was on the verge of shutting.
Attendance had dried up, and if a big change didn’t come, the doors might have shut for good.
Hutchinson ended up being that change, quadrupling the church’s numbers in the first eight weeks he preached. But he also did more than that, attending regular county and village meetings and truly connecting with his community beyond the pulpit.
Related: This Flow Chart That Destroys Religion’s Case Against Gay Marriage Is So Easy, Any Zealot Can Use It
When it was discovered that Hutchinson had married his male partner, church officials told him he was “unfit” to lead the congregation. He was fired the same day.
Now that same congregation — the one he built — is speaking out in Hutchinson’s defense.
“This church was dying when he came here, they weren’t far from closing the doors. It was real close. He came in, worked on it, got people to come…He brought life back into that church,” said Kevin Hershberger, a church member.
Related: From Their Lips To God’s Ears: 21 Secret LGBT Struggles With Religion
“His message was, it’s in the Book of Discipline that we’ve got open doors to everybody. We welcome everybody, apparently, except for the pastor,” he continued.
Another church goer, James Solloway, told Fox 7: “He’s a great guy, the community will suffer a great loss with him gone. What his personal life is his personal business.”
And while we find it moving (not to mention promising) that a congregation would speak out in support of their gay pastor, we also have to wonder: Why would they choose to stay at the church if they don’t believe in its moral code? Isn’t that what belonging to a church is all about?
It almost starts to sound like a battered spouse defending their partner. “He may not treat me right, and sure he hurts me every now and then, but gosh darn’it if I can’t stay away from those big blue eyes.”
Dan Tracer
Kathie Lee Gifford Admits She Initially Struggled to Accept Caitlyn Jenner’s Transition: VIDEO
Kathie Lee Gifford Admits She Initially Struggled to Accept Caitlyn Jenner’s Transition: VIDEO
Sitting down with Andy Cohen in the Watch What Happens Live! clubhouse earlier this week, Kathie Lee Gifford opened up about having to get used to her friend Caitlyn Jenner’s transition. Gifford, who is godmother to Kylie and Kendall Jenner, admitted that Caitlyn’s coming out as trans caught her completely by surprise.
“I don’t have gaydar, so I’m certainly not going to have transgenderdar,” Gifford joked.
Giffored added that she has yet to actually meet “Caitlyn” but is looking forward to knowing her.
“It’s bizarre…It’s a lot for people to digest And I think they’re all trying really hard to. And they’re trying to be loving,” said Gifford. “Bruce was one of the most lovable adorable sweetest guys in the world. That is all still there in Caitlyn. It’s just, you’ve got to – lets be honest – you’ve got to come to grips with it somehow.”
The post Kathie Lee Gifford Admits She Initially Struggled to Accept Caitlyn Jenner’s Transition: VIDEO appeared first on Towleroad.
Kyler Geoffroy
Kathie Lee Gifford Admits She Initially Struggled to Accept Caitlyn Jenner’s Transition: VIDEO
JULY 25th #4thSATURDAYs | WE ARE CELEBRATING THE BIRTHDAY OF WITH DCs OWN… THAT SONGSTRESS HERSELF… THE DOPEST VOCALIST IN THE CITY… ‘CASINO’ @casinodiamond — + SOME DOPE ASS ARTIST — *SLIM JENKINZ – @slimjenkinz *KINGSHUG – @kingshug__gse_rrg *MOLLYB
'Ex-Trans' Activists Exposed: The Big Name Behind Their Fight Against Gender Transition
'Ex-Trans' Activists Exposed: The Big Name Behind Their Fight Against Gender Transition
After an investigation spanning six weeks, The Advocate reveals how those few voices arguing against gender transition are finding followers.
Dawn Ennis
Proof No Penis Is Too Large For A Condom
Proof No Penis Is Too Large For A Condom
If any dude says he’s “too big” to wear a condom, we’ve got some definitive evidence to the contrary.
On July 12, Twitter user Mousie posted an image of her fist and forearm in a condom to derail any man’s attempt at not wearing a condom. The caption reads: “If a boy ever tells you he’s too big for a condom, please send him this.”
If a boy ever tells you he’s too big for a condom, please send him this pic.twitter.com/SBEjF0p7lW
— Mousie (@DramaticEmily) July 13, 2015
The tweet appears to have resonated — with over 19,000 retweets and 18,000 favorites.
Although Mousie received some criticism, with some challenging her claim that no penis is too large for a condom, her message was loud and clear:
@jacoballen9 There’s no excuse to not have safe sex and if a guy pressures you against your will for any reason, it’s a red flag.
— Mousie (@DramaticEmily) July 14, 2015
Preach, lady.
Still don’t believe us? Kindly refer here.
H/T Cosmopolitan.
Also on The Huffington Post:
— 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.
