40 Years Since Leonard Matlovich’s Time Magazine Cover
Forty years ago today, Air Force Sergeant Leonard Matlovich appeared on the cover of Time magazine, marking a turning point for LGBT Americans in the military.
HRC.org
Monthly Archives: September 2015
Heartbreaking New Documentary Recounts Largest Gay Mass Murder In U.S. History
Heartbreaking New Documentary Recounts Largest Gay Mass Murder In U.S. History
While the gays take to the streets of New Orleans this weekend in celebration of Southern Decadence, a new documentary about a darker chapter of the city’s gay history is currently making its rounds on indy film fest circuit.
Upstairs Inferno recounts the story of a 1973 arsonist attack on the Up Stairs Lounge, a popular gay bar once located in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The fire killed more than 30 people and remains the largest gay mass murder in U.S. history. The devastation was compounded by the homophobic response by the general public, local government and religious leaders, who refused to acknowledge the tragedy. As a result, no one was ever charged with the crime and families were left the grieve their loved ones in silence.
To this day the case remains unsolved.
Check out the trailer for Upstairs Inferno below.
UPSTAIRS INFERNO – Teaser Trailer [HD] from Camina Entertainment on Vimeo.
Graham Gremore
Anti-Gay Protestors Picket Judge Who Jailed Kim Davis: VIDEO
Anti-Gay Protestors Picket Judge Who Jailed Kim Davis: VIDEO
Supporters of Rowan County, Kentucky clerk Kim Davis protested outside the home of federal judge David Bunning in protest of Bunning’s decision to jail Davis on charges of contempt. Bunning found Davis in contempt after she refused to provide marriage licenses to same-sex couples, a clear violation of the law in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges.
Federal Marshals were called to Bunning’s home to ensure Bunning’s safety. The protestors, which numbered at most at 30 according to WCPO 9 News, demanded that Bunning, not Davis, should be jailed for allegedly denying Davis her due process.
One protestor outside Bunning’s home argued Davis was “unlawfully put in jail”, adding, “Show us the law or free Kim Davis.”
Another protestor, Rev. Flip Benjamin said, “We are holding Judge Bunning in contempt of almighty God”, clearly referencing the charges of contempt Davis faces.
Protestors held up signs that read, “Don’t make a civil right a moral wrong”, “Free Kim Davis”, while another declared Davis a Kentucky and Christian hero.
Supreme Court justices were accused of treason on another sign.
As WCPO notes, Judge Bunning’s ruling against Davis also ordered that her supporters are not allowed to set up a Go Fund Me account to pay for her legal fees.
Watch a news report and see the bigots on parade, below:
The post Anti-Gay Protestors Picket Judge Who Jailed Kim Davis: VIDEO appeared first on Towleroad.
Sean Mandell
Anti-Gay Protestors Picket Judge Who Jailed Kim Davis: VIDEO
NHS not treating trans patients equally, say top doctors
NHS not treating trans patients equally, say top doctors
Leading doctors have warned the NHS is not treating trans patients equally, following an inquiry
by the Commons Women and Equalities committee launched in July.
Dr John Dean, chair of NHS England’s Clinical Reference Group for Specialised Gender Identity Services told MPs this morning: ‘Trans people are people and must be treated like people and want to be able to access the healthcare in parts of the NHS just like other people.’
Claiming doctors are ‘hampered by a lack of knowledge’ on trans issues, he explained: ‘Overall people working in the service try to be empathic, they are certainly sympathetic, but they lack a great deal of background knowledge about gender incongruence and dysphoria. It is something which is not covered in any detail in medical training.’
He said using the incorrect gender pronoun when addressing a patient, ‘Can cause deep offense’, adding awareness of trans issues should be ‘a fundamental part of NHS training.’
Chief Executive of West London Mental Health NHS Trust Steve Shrubb added: ‘Transgender individuals really do suffer stigma. I don’t believe there is equality. Whether it’s through lack of knowledge or people’s own views I think service users tell me it can feel as if they are not being treated equally.’
For more information on the first evidence session of transgender equality inquiry, click here. To watch the discussion, click here.
The wider inquiry is considering how far and in what ways trans people still have ‘yet to achieve full equality; and how the outstanding issues can most effectively be addressed.’
Committee Chair Maria Miller has commented: ‘Many trans people still face discrimination and unfair treatment in their work, schools, healthcare and other important services. Transphobia and hate crimes are a cruel reminder that we still have a great deal to do to achieve true equality for everyone.’
She added: ‘I hope that trans people will feel able to share their experiences with our inquiry, so that the committee can make recommendations for improving people’s lives.’
The post NHS not treating trans patients equally, say top doctors appeared first on Gay Star News.
Jamie Tabberer
www.gaystarnews.com/article/nhs-not-treating-trans-patients-equally-say-top-doctors/
Op-ed: The Black Gay Trans Man at Minneapolis City Hall
Op-ed: The Black Gay Trans Man at Minneapolis City Hall
Philippe Cunningham was told he could never get into politics. Now, he’s the right-hand man for one of the most powerful women in Minnesota.
Phillipe Cunningham
www.advocate.com/commentary/2015/09/08/op-ed-black-gay-trans-man-minneapolis-city-hall
Rapper Travis Scott apologizes for yelling anti-gay slurs at concert
Rapper Travis Scott apologizes for yelling anti-gay slurs at concert
Travis Scott has apologized for yelling anti-gay slurs at a concert in March.
Scott, 23, faced a backlash on social media last week after footage emerged of the 3500 rapper’s gig at House of Blues in Houston, Texas.
Displeased with the crowd’s lack of energy, he shouted: ‘I ain’t cool with none of you faggots who just sitting here looking like a bunch of queers.’
Time to get this homophobe Travis Scott outta here yall @TMZ @PerezHilton @youngthug pic.twitter.com/xZAfZuVvZM
— KU®T SN❄️W (@HDKG) September 7, 2015
The video could not have could at a worse time for Scott, whose debut album, Rodeo, dropped on Friday (4 September).
On Monday, the rapper took to Twitter to apologize to the LGBTI community, saying his words were taken out of context:
AT MY SHOWS I GET A LIL TURNT UP. SORRY FOR THAT BUT NEVER WILL I EVER DISRESPECT THAT COMMUNITY.
— TRAVIS SCOTT (@trvisXX) September 7, 2015
THANKS BEING SAID MY APOLOGIES TO ANYONE THATS OFFENDED. MY WORDS WERENT OUT OF BAD MEANING AND IN NO DISRESPECT.
— TRAVIS SCOTT (@trvisXX) September 7, 2015
I DONT WANT U TO THINK OF ME AS A SPAZZ. THOUGH WHEN I GET EXCITED I TEND TO SAY THE FIRST THING ON MY MIND OUT LOUD. — TRAVIS SCOTT (@trvisXX) September 7, 2015
IVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT AS A PERSON TAKES TIME BUT WE ALL AINT PERFECT.
— TRAVIS SCOTT (@trvisXX) September 7, 2015
The post Rapper Travis Scott apologizes for yelling anti-gay slurs at concert appeared first on Gay Star News.
Darren Wee
www.gaystarnews.com/article/rapper-travis-scott-apologizes-for-yelling-anti-gay-slurs-at-concert/
Australia welcomes first trans TV host
Australia welcomes first trans TV host
Australia’s first transgender TV host made his debut on The Project Monday (7 September) night.
Andrew Guy, 33, won a nationwide radio competition to be a guest presenter on the Channel Ten panel show and shared his transition story with the other hosts.
‘I still used to go to bed at night, praying that I could wake up the next day as a boy,’ he said.
Guy was introduced with a clip from a documentary about his life, It’s Not About The Sex, which includes photos from his childhood and before his transition five years ago.
‘As a woman with blond hair I was just doing my darnedest to be attractive, be the best woman I could,’ he narrated.
‘People who change their gender are just an everyday person, that eats and sleep and loves and get hurt and just lives as best they can alongside everyone else.’
Asked why he decided to document his transition, Guy replied: ‘Education.’
He revealed that he lived through his teenage years ‘badly and suppressed,’ and struggled to find trans-related information.
‘I mean five years ago we didn’t have Caitlyn Jenner, we didn’t have the likes of those individuals, so it was really a frontier when I thought nobody knows much about this,’ he said.
Guy received an outpouring of support on Twitter, with some viewers suggesting he should become a permanent member of the panel:
Love love love @theprojecttv‘s commitment to diversity. They feature the first transgender guest host on Australian TV tonight.
— Carly Findlay (@carlyfindlay) September 7, 2015
Andrew’s story of his #transgender journey on @theprojecttv tonight was fascinating, informative and educational. Great job!
— Stephen B Sander (@stephenbsander) September 7, 2015
Andrew should stay on as a co-host. He’s great #TheProjectTV
— Jonathan Brown (@JB_AU) September 7, 2015
From one trans person to another – shout out to trans man Andrew co-hosting @theprojecttv tonight (and absolutely SMASHING it)! #legend
— Triana Jade (@trianajade) September 7, 2015
Watch the broadcast below:
The post Australia welcomes first trans TV host appeared first on Gay Star News.
Darren Wee
www.gaystarnews.com/article/australia-welcomes-first-trans-tv-host/
Kim Davis Supporters Protest Outside Judge's Home
Kim Davis Supporters Protest Outside Judge's Home
Thirty people descended on the Kentucky home of Judge David Bunning, who sent antigay county clerk Kim Davis to prison.
Neal Broverman
www.advocate.com/marriage-equality/2015/09/07/kim-davis-supporters-protest-outside-judges-home
Famed novelist Anne Rice finds Kim Davis ‘stubborn, self-centered and self-obsessed’
Famed novelist Anne Rice finds Kim Davis ‘stubborn, self-centered and self-obsessed’
Interview With a Vampire author Anne Rice, the mother of a gay son, is not impressed with Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis’ version of Christianity.
Davis, currently in jail in Kentucky for contempt of court, has said she had acted on ‘God’s authority’ in refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Rice writes in a Facebook post that all her life she has known Christians — Catholics, Protestants, independent believers, bible readers and church goers, nuns, priests, ministers – who are devoted to Christ.
‘This woman Kim Davis … bears little or no resemblance to the believers I’ve known. She comes across to me as a stubborn, self centered and self obsessed individual with little grasp of the belief system she references as she shows complete disregard for the rights of her fellow Americans.
‘It is sad to think anyone would regard this gravely misguided and obviously bigoted individual as a poster girl for “faith in God.”‘
In addition to her better-known novels such as The Vampire Lestat and The Queen of the Damned, Rice has written two books chronicling the life of Jesus: Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt and Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana.
‘What a colossal waste all this has been of the taxpayer’s money and the court’s time,’ Rice writes. ‘I congratulate my gay brothers and sisters of all faiths, and of no faith, for standing up to the selfish and arrogant bias of this woman and politely and justly demanding their rights.’
The author’s son, Chistopher Rice, has written six best-selling novels including A Density of Souls, The Snow Garden, and Light Before Day.
The post Famed novelist Anne Rice finds Kim Davis ‘stubborn, self-centered and self-obsessed’ appeared first on Gay Star News.
Greg Hernandez
What To Watch On TV This Week: Colbert Makes His ‘Late Show’ Debut
What To Watch On TV This Week: Colbert Makes His ‘Late Show’ Debut
Check out our weekly guide to make sure you’re catching the big premieres, crucial episodes and the stuff you won’t admit you watch when no one’s looking.
— It’s the long-awaited debut of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Tuesday at 11:35 p.m. Eastern on CBS. The handsome host spent years putting anti-LGBT politicians on blast as a Fox News-skewering persona on The Colbert Report. Although he’s leaving that blustery persona behind, he’s already demonstrated that his keen political satire is here to stay with a video eviscerating the Supreme Court justices that dissented in Obergefell v. Hodges.
Check out more of our picks for what to watch this week below!
— Americans don’t have a monopoly on terrible reality TV monsters. Women across the pond get their shot at being terrible on camera with the return of Ladies of London, tonight at 7 p.m. Eastern on Bravo.
— One of the only reasons to tune into the bro-fest that is Spike is to see the shockingly stellar reality competition Ink Master. The tattoo-focused contest follows the Project Runway format and similarly showcases a lot of real artistry. Now, they’re expanding the franchise with the premiere of Ink Master: Redemption, Tuesday at 11 p.m. Eastern. Past episodes’ “human canvases” (the brave/idiotic volunteers that the contestants tattoo each episode) return to get a redo on their botched tat.
— Last week’s paintball team challenge revealed this season’s villains when the ladies turned against Ashley on Project Runway. This week, the remaining designers tackle women’s lingerie, Thursday at 9 p.m. Eastern on Lifetime.
— It’s the finale of I Am Cait and it promises to showcase the one-on-one conversation with Jenner’s ex-wife Kris. Although the series hasn’t always been the most thrilling hour on television, it has gone out of its way to handle Jenner’s story with sensitivity and to highlight the stories of other trans folks who may not be in her position of power and privilege. Will the series end with the same integrity, or will it succumb to the temptation to play out the conflict like most reality shows? Find out Sunday at 8 p.m. on E!.
What are you watching on TV this week?
The post What To Watch On TV This Week: Colbert Makes His ‘Late Show’ Debut appeared first on Towleroad.
Bobby Hankinson
What To Watch On TV This Week: Colbert Makes His ‘Late Show’ Debut
