Monthly Archives: July 2015
WATCH: His Boyfriend Died in the Closet
WATCH: His Boyfriend Died in the Closet
A year after Andy Goodling’s boyfriend died, he is telling their story in a YouTube video, hoping to inspire others to be out and proud.
Dawn Ennis
www.advocate.com/families/2015/07/09/watch-his-boyfriend-died-closet
'Coming Out Cards' Provide The Perfect Response For A Newly Out Loved One
'Coming Out Cards' Provide The Perfect Response For A Newly Out Loved One
Coming out is never easy.
However, for individuals who have never loved or been close to a member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) community, knowing how to respond to someone’s coming out can also be challenging.
For this reason, queer teen John Hansen began making “Coming Out Cards” — free eCards that can be sent to a newly out member of the LGBT community as a small gesture of support and compassion. The cards are often tongue-in-cheek, adding a lighthearted air to what can be one of the most difficult times of a queer person’s life.
“Coming out is often isolating, and continuing a dialogue with someone who has recently come out can make them feel much more comfortable and confident,” Hansen told The Huffington Post. “It can make such a huge difference to remind them that you’re listening, that you understand and that you’re there for them. I hope these eCards will do exactly that.”
The Huffington Post chatted further with Hansen this week about the “Coming Out Cards” and the impact he hopes they achieve. Check out the interview, as well as the cards themselves, below.
Why did you decide to create these “Coming Out Cards”?
John Hansen: For a while now, I’ve noticed that there are greeting cards for almost every occasion, yet very few geared specifically towards coming out. And so, about a month ago, I decided to change that. Because I’m not much of a designer, a big part of the eCards for me has always been the message — I wanted the cards to feel fun and positive and conversational all at once, so that they’d read like a friend’s dorky text.
Why do you think this resource is so important for the queer community?
The eCards certainly won’t change everything — one of the many pressing issues facing the queer community is acceptance, and it’s brave LGBTQIA+ people across the world who are fighting to make acceptance the norm. But my hope is that these cards will help in that “after coming out” stage, both by putting a smile on a queer person’s face and by letting them breathe deeply because they know they truly are supported.
In your opinion, why are affirmations of support crucial to the healthy lives of queer people?
Though not every queer person will need an affirmation of support, I do think that — especially in the beginning stages of the process — many people are still deeply uncertain about how their sexuality or gender will affect their relationships, and little affirmations of support can help remind them that it’s going to be okay. Coming out is often isolating, and continuing a dialogue with someone who has recently come out can make them feel much more comfortable and confident. You honestly don’t know what’s going through their mind — they might still be insecure about their sexuality or gender, for example, or they might have had bad coming out experiences in the past and are worried that this one will also turn sour. It can make such a huge difference to remind them that you’re listening, that you understand and that you’re there for them. I hope these eCards will do exactly that.
What do you hope to see from this project in the future?
I’d really love for the cards to reach the right people — by which I mean queer people who might find them funny, yeah, but also others who are supportive of the LGBTQIA+ community but who aren’t quite sure how to express it. I hope these cards will bridge the gap for anyone who is struggling to convey their admiration for a loved one who has recently come out.
Want to see more “Coming Out Cards”? Head here.
— 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.
HRC Global Hosts Briefing on Capitol Hill to Discuss Human Rights Concerns in Egypt
HRC Global Hosts Briefing on Capitol Hill to Discuss Human Rights Concerns in Egypt
On July 8, HRC hosted a briefing on Capitol Hill about human rights concerns in Egypt from the perspective of civil society, the media and the LGBT community.
HRC.org
Which Presidential Candidates Still Think There’s Wiggle Room To Get Rid Of Marriage Equality?
Which Presidential Candidates Still Think There’s Wiggle Room To Get Rid Of Marriage Equality?
Kim Davis hijacking the law
In the two weeks since the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriages must be recognized across the nation, there have been troubling (if not unsurprising) cases of government workers at the local level intervening with the law based on their own personal religious beliefs. Is this what the right means by “religious freedom?”
It’s easy to get angry at these people, like Kim Davis in Kentucky, who believe they somehow have the authority to negate the highest court in the land simply because they think a fictional character from 2,000 years ago would have turned his wine back into water if he ever found out gay people were getting hitched.
But while Kim Davis and her ilk are certainly a problem, they aren’t The problem. Up the ranks of power, a more troubling trend appears.
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and Texas Senator Ted Cruz, both members of the not-so-exclusive club of 2016 Republican presidential candidates, are both pushing for a constitutional amendment that would let states ban same-sex marriage.
While the chances of it succeeding are abysmally low, they’re pouring fuel into the flames of homophobia. And they know it.
In 1967, the state of Virginia called an expert witness to argue against the merits of interracial marriage in the landmark Loving v. Virginia case.
Albert Gordon, author of Intermarriage: Interfaith, Interracial, Interethnic (tip: don’t ever read it) testified that interracial marriages, “hold no promise for a bright and happy future for mankind” and “bequeath to the progeny of those marriages more psychological problems than the parents have a right to bequeath to them.”
His obvious hogwash was unconvincing to the court and now reads as unmistakably offensive, just as Scott Walker, Ted Cruz and anyone holding a position of power who still thinks there’s room to go back on marriage equality will be seen for what they are: sore losers and bigots.
Marco Rubio, who admittedly disagrees with the court’s ruling, has the modicum of decency to speak like an adult even though things didn’t go his way.
“I don’t support a constitutional amendment. I don’t believe the federal government should be in the marriage regulation business,” the Florida senator told reporters after a speech at the Cedar Rapids Country Club in Iowa.
“We can continue to disagree with it. Perhaps a future court will change that decision, in much the same way as it’s changed other decisions in the past. But my opinion is unchanged, that marriage should continue to be defined as one man and one woman. The decision is what it is, and that’s what we’ll live under.”
Of course, a future court won’t change that decision, but the faster these so-called Christians swallow their reality pills, the better off we will all be as a nation — bigots included.
Dan Tracer
The OXD Mirror: The Carry Nation Re-works Andy Butler
The OXD Mirror: The Carry Nation Re-works Andy Butler
BY OCCUPY THE DISCO / TAD HAES
Andy Butler feat. Richard Kennedy: ‘You Can Shine (The Carry Nation Remix)’
Andy Butler, the mastermind behind the acclaimed house and new disco ensemble Hercules And Love Affair, released ‘You Can Shine’ earlier this year, which features the sophisticated vocal work of queer singer Richard Kennedy. For this release, Butler commissioned fellow Brooklyn gay nightlife stars The Carry Nation (Will Automagic and Nita Aviance) to create a deeper, darker version of the original.
The Carry Nation’s remix brings in their signature underground sound, filled with tribal percussions and expressive drums, a more introspective pace and expansive progression. This is a track that will likely become an iconic piece from the current dance scene in Brooklyn for future generations.
- DJ Jes hails from Chicago and the city’s influence can be easily noted in his latest release, the First Generation EP. The last cut in the record, ‘Malo,’ got me hooked with its laid-back, jazzy and tribal feel.
- Still on the percussion-based side of house, Archie Hamilton focuses on an abstract drum melody for his track ‘Mind Blank.’ Mixed with a killer bass, it will keep dance floors moving for days.
- Jacques Renault (who played with us at Sunday tea dance, Paradisco, this past spring) is back with a new release on his own imprint, Let’s Play House. The forthcoming EP, Talk System, will include the somewhat acid, yet sweet rework of ‘Psyched Up’ by Sisterhood.
- The Emperor Machine adds his analog disco touch to Cannibal Ink’s ‘Acid U.’ I’m always impressed by anything The Emperor Machine releases and this track is no exception.
OCCUPY THE DISCO (OXD) curates and recommends music events to the gay community in NYC—in an effort to move the focus of the nightlife scene beyond the promoter and venue and to the music itself. OXD’s goal is to educate, entertain, engage and empower the gay audience to reclaim their ability to question and experience the unknown. The OXD Mirror will serve to showcase tunes that are definitely off-the-beaten-path but rightfully deserve the attention of the gay ear.
Follow us on Spotify! Subscribe to our ‘As Seen on Towleroad Playlist to listen to tracks posted from past weeks. For more information on OXD, check out our website and accompanying blog at www.occupythedisco.com, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter: @OccupyTheDisco.
The post The OXD Mirror: The Carry Nation Re-works Andy Butler appeared first on Towleroad.
Occupy the Disco
relecting on the present time
Russia Trolls U.S. After Supreme Court Marriage Ruling
Russia Trolls U.S. After Supreme Court Marriage Ruling
The United Russia party unveiled a “heterosexual flag” at a rally to honor the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity.
Bil Browning
www.advocate.com/world/2015/07/09/russia-trolls-us-after-supreme-court-marriage-ruling
Lawmaker Wants To Make Federal Laws Gender Neutral To Reflect Marriage Equality
Lawmaker Wants To Make Federal Laws Gender Neutral To Reflect Marriage Equality
WASHINGTON — Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.) introduced a bill Wednesday to make federal laws that reference marriage gender neutral, now that the Supreme Court has legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
“We need to have our values reflected in our laws,” she said, adding, “This is a piece of what we have to do to readjust the way everything is framed.”
Capps’ legislation, which has 23 cosponsors, identifies 31 portions of the federal code that need to be updated. Instead of words like “wife” and “husband,” there will be the terms “spouse” or “married couple.”
The bill would also fix some areas of gender discrimination written into federal laws. The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, for example, refers only to miner’s wives as being eligible for survivor benefits. With Capps’ change, spouses of miners, regardless of gender, would qualify. It is also currently illegal to kill the president’s wife, but not his or her husband.
“We appreciate Rep. Capps introducing legislation to ensure that the words in the U.S. Code appropriately reflect the Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, that all marriages are equal,” said Human Rights Campaign spokesman Jason Rahlan.
There have also been efforts to make laws gender neutral at the state level. In Washington state, “fisherman” became “fisher” and “journeyman plumber” became “journey-level plumber.”
The Justice Department announced on Thursday that the government will extend federal benefits to same-sex couples in light of the Supreme Court ruling.
— 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.
Shaggy thinks ISIS will stop killing gays if you sent them weed, Shaggy CDs
Shaggy thinks ISIS will stop killing gays if you sent them weed, Shaggy CDs
Shaggy, known for his 90s and early 00s raps, has shared his strategy for dealing with Islamic militants chopping gay men and other victims’ heads off.
The Boombastic rapper has figured that they would stop killing people if you sent them a bag of good Jamaican weed and a few Shaggy CDs, they’d probably stop waging war on innocent civilians.
‘ISIS can go fuck themselves,’ he told the New Miami Times. ‘That’s some crazy shit what they’re doing.
‘It’s horrible, man. I can’t see… I don’t get that much hate. I just don’t get that level of evil. I can’t understand it.’
He added: ‘If you’re able to cut a man’s head off, you’re sick. But right, music evokes emotion. So if they’re listening to Shaggy music or reggae music, they’re not going to want to cut somebody’s head off.
‘There are two thing you want to do when you listen to reggae: You get somebody pregnant, or you’re fucking high. High people don’t want to kill nothing; they want to love.
‘They need to bag some Jamaican weed and distribute it amongst ISIS. I guarantee there won’t be any more wars out there.’
Unlike many Jamaican rapper and singers, Shaggy has said in the past that he does not want to write homophobic lyrics.
In an interview with the Antigua Sun, he said: ‘There are way more things going on than to sit down and wonder who is doing what and what they are doing, personally.’
The post Shaggy thinks ISIS will stop killing gays if you sent them weed, Shaggy CDs appeared first on Gay Star News.
Joe Morgan
