Michigan’s Anti-gay Marriage Fight Could Wind Up Costing Taxpayers Millions

Earlier this year, we reported that plaintiffs in successful same-sex marriage lawsuits have been awarded more than $800,000 in attorneys fees’ from states that defended the bans, with another $2.6 million in requests pending.

With the Supreme Court ruling in favor of the plaintiffs in the Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, and Kentucky marriage cases (all consolidated into the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling), taxpayers in Michigan may soon be footing a big bill.

The AP reports:

Under federal law, there seems to be no dispute that lawyers for April DeBoer and Jayne Rowseare entitled to payment from taxpayers. Attorney General Bill Schuette vigorously opposed their challenge to Michigan’s 2004 ban on gay marriage, which was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court.

It’s up to Detroit federal Judge Bernard Friedman to determine what’s reasonable for the legal team. Schuette will have an opportunity to respond.

Detroit’s WXYZ adds:

In all, the six attorneys – Carole Stanyar, Dana Nessel, Kenneth Mogill, Robert Sedler, Mary Bonauto and Vickie Henry – said the total calculation came to $1,927,450 for their fees. Every attorney charged $350 an hour, with three of them putting in over 1,000 hours of work each in the case.

Lawyers in gay marriage case seek $2M from state by Channel Seven

The post Michigan’s Anti-gay Marriage Fight Could Wind Up Costing Taxpayers Millions appeared first on Towleroad.

Kyler Geoffroy

Michigan’s Anti-gay Marriage Fight Could Wind Up Costing Taxpayers Millions

Homophobes outraged that a rainbow welcomes President Obama to Ethiopia

Pictures of a rainbow welcoming Barack Obama to Addis Ababa, shared online, have sparked controversy amongst users on Facebook.

Some of the pictures show Air Force One fly past a beautiful rainbow hanging in the skies over the Ethiopian capital during its final approach on Sunday afternoon, while others show the view from the runway of Addis Ababa Bole International Airport.

Rainbow as #Obama lands in #AddisAbaba .In #Ethiopia Rainbow symbolizes God’s promise to man kind.Not homosexuality! pic.twitter.com/KTvj0epZRu

— Mady Yonas (@Madyyon) 26. Juli 2015

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs posted a picture to his Facebook page, captioned: ‘President Barack Obama just landed in ‪#‎AddisAbaba‬ ‪#‎Ethiopia‬ for his three days official visit. Stunning ‪#‎Rainbow‬ on the skies of Addis as he landed.’

Ethiopian users were quick to share their opinions and interpretations: while the majority of commenters some saw it as a gift to Obama and the country, or as a good omen, the comment section quickly turned homophobic.

One user said the rainbow was Ethiopia’s flag, given to them as a gift from God but hijacked by the LGBTI community, whose ‘flag should be black like devils coz they are devils’.

‘This rainbow is sign of God’s protection from every evil activities like obama’s government allow homosexual not sign of well come,’ another user wrote.

‘So be careful mr obama to your agendas and activities for this 2 days cuz this is Ethiopia not American or Kenya.’

Another user said: ‘Don’t forget ! In Our motherland Ethiopia , the rainbow symbolizes God’s promise for mankind , not homosexuality!’

On his visit to Kenya last week, Obama had made his position on gay rights clear during a press conference, saying people should not be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation.

‘No dirty gay marriage in our continent Africa’ demanded one user, while another welcomed the President but asked him to ‘please keep your homosexual agenda in Air Force One before u step on the holy land. Thanks.’

Homosexuality is illegal in Ethiopia and can be punished by a prison sentence of up to 15 years; Obama is expected to address this issue during his visit. He is the first serving US President to visit Ethiopia.

The post Homophobes outraged that a rainbow welcomes President Obama to Ethiopia appeared first on Gay Star News.

Stefanie Gerdes

www.gaystarnews.com/article/homophobes-outraged-that-a-rainbow-welcomes-president-obama-to-ethiopia/

Bianca Del Rio Prepares To Blow Moviegoers Away As Filming Begins On ‘Hurricane Bianca’

Hold onto your wigs and secure your false eyelashes because production has begun on Hurricane Bianca. The film, starring RuPaul’s Drag Race season 6 winner Bianca Del Rio, tells the story of a high school teacher in a small town in Texas who loses his job once it’s discover he is gay. So what’s a gay guy to do when something like this happens? Get dressed up in drag and return disguised as a mean lady to get revenge on everyone in the town, of course. Currently shooting on location in Dallas, the cast includes Saturday Night Live alum Rachel Dratch and stage and screen star Alan Cumming.

The indie film, which was funded through a crowdsourcing campaign, was written and is being directed by Matt Kugelman. When Kugelman first met Bianca he was inspired to write something that would fit the drag insult comic’s style of humor. The goal of this project is to make audiences laugh while shining a light on discrimination and employment equality. “My hope is that Hurricane Bianca will change minds and bring awareness to the issue. The film deals with a serious topic in a comedic way.”

“I really can’t tell you how my character gets his revenge, but give me forty bucks and I’ll get you a scratched DVD with behind the scenes footage, which is just me getting into drag,” says Roy Haylock, the man behind drag persona, Bianca del Rio.

It’s been a banner year for both Roy and Bianca. Since winning RuPaul’s Drag Race, Bianca has gone on to tour all over the world with the wildly successful comedy show Rolodex of Hate. Del Rio was also recently named one of “10 Comics to Watch” by Variety.

Hurricane Bianca will storm into movie theaters early next year, so prepare to be blown in a whole new way come 2016.

Jeremy Kinser

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/ZULri_Cuwo0/bianca-del-rio-prepares-to-blow-moviegoers-away-as-filming-begins-on-hurricane-bianca-20150727

Op-ed: How We Can Address Homophobia at the Doctor's Office

A new study suggests health care providers might show implicit and explicit bias against lesbian and gay patients. Data collection of patient sexual orientation and gender identity could provide a solution.

read more

Harvey Makadon MD

www.advocate.com/commentary/2015/07/27/op-ed-how-we-can-address-homophobia-doctors-office

Is Ivan Massow considering running as an independent candidate for London Mayor?

Gay finance expert and businessman Ivan Massow has been rejected as one of the Conservative Party’s official candidates for Mayor of London.

A successor for Boris Johnson is due to be elected in 2016.

A shortlist of four Conservative candidates was announced on Saturday.

Names in the running include Richmond MP Zac Goldsmith, London MEP Syed Kamall, deputy mayor for policing and crime Stephen Greenhalgh, and Greater London Authority member Andrew Boff, who – like Massow – is also openly gay.

One will be chosen following hustings in September.

Massow, alongside footballer Sol Campbell and Westminster Council leader Philippa Roe, did not make the shortlist.

In response to the news, Massow Tweeted on Saturday: ‘Just heard by text that I didn’t make it onto the list. Really want to thank everyone who’s supported me and my team. It was quite a journey’

Just heard by text that I didn’t make it onto the list. Really want to thank everyone who’s supported me and my team. It was quite a journey

— Ivan Massow (@IvanMassow) July 25, 2015

However, in response to some of those who Tweeted their disappointment at him not being selected, he indicated that his participation in the race may not be over yet.

One Twitter user, Isabelle Scott (@lzzieScott) implored him, ‘Don’t give up!’, to which he responded, ‘I won’t. ;)’

Yesterday, another user, @IanMCalvert, asked Massow if he would consider standing as an independent Conservative candidate, to which he replied, ‘I feel my work here isn’t yet done!’

@IvanMassow

Massow has been approached for further comment.

Massow launched his campaign in May with an animated campaign video in which he sought to be upfront with the electorate, saying: ‘I’m gay, I’m an ex-alcoholic, I’m dyslexic.’

Last week he released a further video stating that he wanted to spend the night at the homes of voters, so he could find out about the issues that mattered to them.

Gay, LBC radio presenter Iain Dale tweeted that the video was the ‘worst campaign’ he’d ever seen and ‘buttock-clenchingly awful’.

His campaign may not have been helped by an interview he gave last month to LondonLovesBusiness, in which he was criticized for appearing vague over policies and his reasons for wanting to become mayor.

The post Is Ivan Massow considering running as an independent candidate for London Mayor? appeared first on Gay Star News.

David Hudson

www.gaystarnews.com/article/is-ivan-massow-considering-running-as-an-independent-candidate-for-london-mayor/

Op-ed: How Your Facebook Posts Are Changing the World

Social media can be more than cat memes; it can actually move the country in a more tolerant direction.

read more

Christopher Dale

www.advocate.com/commentary/2015/07/27/op-ed-how-your-facebook-posts-are-changing-world

Trans woman shot dead in Guyana

A transgender woman was gunned down last week in Guyana.

Nephi Luthers was shot in the chest at around 2.35am on Wednesday (22 July) morning in the capital Georgetown.

According to the Guyana Chronicle, Luthers was a sex worker and had refused to give a refund to an unsatisfied client earlier that night.

He later returned with another man and a heated row erupted, during which one of them shot Luthers before they sped away in an SUV.

Other sex workers rushed to Luthers to hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police said they were reviewing video footage and pursuing the two suspects, although no arrests have yet been made.

The Guyana Trans United group said it was saddened and in shock to hear ‘another member has been gunned down.’

Two nights before the shooting, the group held a candlelight vigil in remembrance of two other transgender sex workers who were murdered on 20 July 2014.

The post Trans woman shot dead in Guyana appeared first on Gay Star News.

Darren Wee

www.gaystarnews.com/article/trans-woman-shot-dead-in-guyana/

Bobbi Kristina Brown Has Died At Age 22

Six months after she was found unconscious in a bathtub in her Atlanta home, Bobbi Kristina Brown has died at age 22. The death of the only daughter that came from the union of R&B singer Bobby Brown and late pop superstar Whitney Houston, after weeks in hospice care, feels like the end of an era in which Houston dazzled a generation with her perfect vibrato and peerless range as a vocalist.

The Houston family released a statement Sunday, saying, “Bobbi Kristina Brown passed away Sunday, July 26 2015, surrounded by her family. She is finally at peace in the arms of God. We want to again thank everyone for their tremendous amount of love and support during these last few months.”

Despite the death of her relative, singer Dionne Warwick, Houston’s cousin, followed through with a planned appearance on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live. Host Andy Cohen asked what she wanted the world to know about the 22-year-old. “Oh my, do we have enough time? She was a sweetheart and she will be missed that’s for sure,” Warwick shared. “And she was a good girl… She was a good little girl, she really was.”

For the many millions of fans of Whitney Houston, one of the most beloved and talented singers in pop music history, Brown’s passing is an unbearably sad reminder of Houston’s similar death in 2012.

Read a few tweets from friends and fans of the family.

Peace at Last! #BobbiKristina

— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) July 27, 2015

No parent ever think of burying their child be4 they go so extra prayers 4BobbyBrown & Cissy Houston Rest #BobbiKristina

— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) July 27, 2015

I was greatly saddened to hear of the passing of #BobbiKristina -I send my love & heartfelt condolences to the Brown & Houston families.

— The Real Paula Abdul (@PaulaAbdul) July 27, 2015

Rest in peace #BobbiKristina ?? pic.twitter.com/QLMk2paF9S

— Puff Daddy (@iamdiddy) July 27, 2015

Jeremy Kinser

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/tIr7tVEK3c8/bobbi-kristina-brown-has-died-at-age-22-20150727