Why Is the Video Never Enough? Asks Trevor Noah Regarding Police Shootings

When will America admit police brutality is a problem? 

www.advocate.com/television/2016/7/08/why-video-never-enough-asks-trevor-noah-regarding-police-shootings

Todrick Hall’s ‘Color’ Is the Sweet Music Video We Need Today – WATCH

Late last week, Todrick Hall released a new music video for his song “Color”, featuring Jay Armstrong Johnson, and it might be exactly what you need to watch today after this week’s tragic events.

The lyrics of the song broadly paint a metaphor of how love transforms a black and white world into one filled with color. However, the song also plays with the idea of ‘color’ in a way that tackles race. Hall, who is black, and Johnson, who is white, play lovers in the music video for the song. Towards the end of the video, the pair subtly addresses the ignorance and bigotry interracial couples (to say nothing of interracial same-sex couples) so often face.

“And maybe the world will never understand / Our kinda love,” Todrick sings. The world might say, “”That’s quite enough!”, Jay suggests. But Todrick insists, “I’ll fight for us,” adding, “I’d like to be the kinda man / You’d like to love / We’ve got a right to love.”

PREVIOUSLY: Todrick Hall and Bob The Drag Queen Are ‘Straight Outta Oz’ in ‘Wrong Bitch’ Music Video – WATCH

The pair close the song with the poignant line, “Whenever you’re there, darling I swear, I don’t see color.”

Watch the sweet music video, below.

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Chloe Trusts the Moon…and Samuel L. Jackson – WATCH

Good evening, America. It’s recently come to Chloe’s attention that she trusts the moon.

As it turns out, she gets all her advice from the moon (moo-YERN)…and Samuel L. Jackson, of course.

PREVIOUSLY: Chloe Models for Marc Jacobs (and Shares Her Inspirations) – WATCH

Find out what sage counsel the Moon gives to Chloe, below.

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Wilson Cruz to Gay Hollywood: Don't Let Orlando Victims Die in Vain

The gay activist and My So-Called Life actor gave a stirring speech at Outfest, challenging filmmakers to tell the stories of queer people of color.

www.advocate.com/media/2016/7/08/wilson-cruz-gay-hollywood-dont-let-orlando-victims-die-vain

10 More States Sue Obama Administration Over Trans Student Guidance

The states object to federal guidance on transgender students’ rights, including the right to use facilities matching their gender identity. 

www.advocate.com/transgender/2016/7/08/10-more-states-sue-obama-administration-over-trans-student-guidance

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker Signs Transgender Rights Bill

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker (R) signed a bill on Friday that protects transgender citizens from discrimination in the area of public accommodations. More specifically, the bill will allow transgender individuals to use bathrooms, locker rooms and changing rooms that match their gender identity.

Earlier this week lawmakers announced they had reached a compromise on the bill after they had previously been at an impasse.

Said Governor Baker in a press release,

“No one should be discriminated against in Massachusetts because of their gender identity. This compromise legislation extends additional protections to the Commonwealth’s transgender community, and includes language to address the public safety concerns expressed by some by requiring the Attorney General to issue regulations to protect against people abusing the law.”

No one should be discriminated against b/c of their gender identity; this compromise extends add’l protections to our transgender residents.

— Charlie Baker (@MassGovernor) July 8, 2016

Via CBS Boston: 

State politicians expressed their support for the bill’s enactment.

“The cloud of discrimination that our transgender family members, friends and neighbors have lived under in Massachusetts was lifted today,” Congressman Joe Kennedy III said in a public statement.

The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and attorney general’s office have until Sept. 1 to report their recommendations, regulations or guidance. The law takes effect on October 1.

The ‘compromise’ Baker mentioned in his statement refers to added provisions that “directs the Massachusetts attorney general’s office to issue regulations or guidance for referring to law enforcement any person whose assertion of a gender identity is for an improper purpose.” In other words, language was added in to the bill to try and assuage the concerns of those who believed a transgender rights bill would enable sexually predatory men to pose as women to enter women’s bathrooms…regardless of the fact that bathroom predators don’t need (or seek) permission from the law to engage in predatory behavior.

RELATED: Debunking the Dangerous Myth Behind America’s Anti-LGBT ‘Bathroom Bills’ – WATCH 

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Gay Cop Among Those Shot, Wounded in Dallas

A gay police officer was among those shot and wounded on Thursday night when a sniper’s bullets tore through a peaceful protest in downtown Dallas.

Jesus Retana, 39, has worked as a Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) police officer for 10 years according to The Dallas Morning News. 

TNCRM reports that Retana is now recovering at home with his husband, Andrew Moss, also a former officer at DART:

Moss was behind an effort to get DART to add insurance benefits for same-sex partners that began in 2012.

Retana and Moss were married in 2008 in California. Moss […] left law enforcement in 2010 due to health problems.

Retana and his husband reportedly do not want to be interviewed out of fear for their safety.

Though Retana survived the shooting, 5 other police officers were not so lucky. In total, 11 officers were targeted and shot by the sniper who police have identified as Micah Xavier Johnson, a decorated veteran who had served in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Neighbors confirm that this is a photo of Micah X. Johnson, the man Dallas police believe is the deceased shooter. pic.twitter.com/i68UANTwSF

— Jacob Rascon (@Jacobnbc) July 8, 2016

RELATED – Dallas Police Chief: Suspect, Upset About Shootings, ‘Wanted to Kill White People’, White Cops

[Top photo via Twitter]

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Massachusetts Gov. Signs Transgender Public Accommodations Bill

Gov. Charlie Baker signed the bill into law today, assuring that residents can use the public facilities aligned with their gender identity.

www.advocate.com/transgender/2016/7/08/massachusetts-gov-signs-transgender-public-accommodations-bill