16 Inspirational Voices for LGBTQ Equality in 2016: John Lewis

As 2016 comes to a close, there is no doubt that this year was difficult for many in the LGBTQ and allied community. After a year of such celebration and momentous progress in 2015, 2016 was a shocking wake-up call to many about the realities that LGBTQ people face. From the rise in anti-LGBTQ legislation to the horrific shooting at Pulse, from the incidents of anti-transgender violence to the election of a presidential ticket that threatened to undermine equality and justice, we know that our job is more important now than ever before.

However, through these difficult times, we witnessed countless moments of inspiration. Throughout the year, time and time again, we saw people stand up and do what was right. Whether they were celebrities, politicians, a friend or just an acquaintance, we saw people stand up for equality and inspire us all. Their stories made us cry, gave us hope and reminded us that love will conquer hate.

Throughout 2016, civil rights icon and Congressman John Lewis used his voice to reiterate his support and dedication for full LGBTQ equality.

In the wake of the horrific tragedy at Pulse nightclub in Orlando– the nation’s deadliest mass shooting — Lewis staged a sit-in on the House floor to try to force a vote on common-sense gun violence prevention policies.

“What is the tipping point? Are we blind? Can we see? How many more mothers, how many more fathers need to shed tears of grief before we do something?” Lewis said. “We have been too quiet for too long. There comes a time when you have to say something, when you have to make a little noise, when you have to move your feet. This is the time. Now is the time to get in the way. The time to act is now. We will be silent no more.”

The sit-in brought together dozens of Representatives and many members of the U.S. Senate, becoming a historic moment for our country for gun violence prevention. Lewis also participated in a #DisarmHate rally at the Capitol.

I doesn’t matter if we are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. We are one people. We are one family. #DisarmHate pic.twitter.com/BM05lJPNjW

— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) July 13, 2016

At HRC’s 20^th Annual National Dinner in September, Lewis called for “good trouble” on the road to equality. In a powerful speech, Lewis spoke to the audience as allies in the fight for equality about the precious power of the vote.  He also visited HRC and Equality NC volunteers to make calls for pro-equality candidates in North Carolina.

The day before the dinner, Lewis hosted an epic #HRCTwitterTakeover, sharing his thoughts on the 2016 election and his long term commitment to the LGBTQ community.

“I fought too hard against discrimination based on race & color, not to stand up for the #LGBTQ community,” he tweeted.

I fought too hard against discrimination based on race & color, not to stand up for the #LGBTQ community. –@repjohnlewis #HRCTwitterTakeover

— HumanRightsCampaign (@HRC) September 9, 2016

For more than five decades, Lewis has used his voice to create change. He has inspired us to take action and do what is right and just. He has received a perfect score on HRC’s Congressional Scorecard. He is a stalwart ally through good times and bad, reminding us that there is always more we can do to improve the world for others.

Thank you, Congressman Lewis, for inspiring us to get in “good trouble” and reminding us that at the end of the day, “It doesn’t matter if we are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. We are one people. We are one family.”

Want to learn more about John Lewis? Here are 10 inspiring quotes from him on LGBTQ rights.

Follow along with HRC’s blog in the coming days as we recognize the people who inspired us and gave us hope, courage and strength in 2016.

www.hrc.org/blog/16-inspirational-voices-for-lgbtq-equality-in-2016-john-lewis?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

White House: Trump "Obviously Knew" About Russian Cyber Attacks (Video)

President Obama announced the U.S. would retaliate against Russia for interfering in the 2016 presidential election, and he and his spokesman refuted claims Donald Trump wasn’t aware.

www.advocate.com/election/2016/12/16/white-house-trump-obviously-knew-about-russian-cyber-attacks-video

The GLAAD Wrap: 'Tom of Finland' trailer, 'Paris is Burning' inducted to National Film Registry and more!

www.glaad.org/blog/glaad-wrap-tom-finland-trailer-paris-burning-inducted-national-film-registry-and-more

The Men in Room 2046 (Photos)

www.advocate.com/photography/2016/12/16/men-room-2046-photos

One college athlete’s perfect response to being called “fag*ot”

Meet Voight Demeester, ace hockey player and a senior at Penn State.

Related: PHOTOS: Hockey team signs ridiculously fine goalie, perhaps to distract opponents?

In the below video from Davey Wavey, Demeester recounts what it’s like being called a “faggot” by an opponent; a situation he faced last Saturday.

After Demeester alerted the referee about the scuffle, the incident was reported to the Penn State Altoona captain and coach. (The opponent was from a satellite campus, Penn State Altoona.)

Related: Hockey player Brock McGillis: “I lived a life of denial, because I am gay”

Talking to OutSports, Demeester says, “In the moment I was disappointed for the fact that they represent Penn State.”

But at the same time it fueled my fire in a way that drove me to play better the rest of the game. I started hitting a lot more because I wanted this ‘faggot’ to beat them.”

Watch:

www.queerty.com/one-college-athletes-perfect-response-called-fagot-20161216?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Octavia Spencer, Pat McCrory, Scientology, Berlin, Jamaica, Michelle Obama: HOT LINKS

PRICELESS. Octavia Spencer had the best possible reaction to President Obama unexpectedly showing up.

CONGRESS. Rep. Elijah Cummings spells it out: “[T]here has been hacking by the Russians. We’re clear on that. It goes up to the highest levels of the Russian government. We’re clear on that. And this is like, as the former CIA director said, this is like a 9/11 for us. And we should be addressing it in a very serious and, it must be, an independent way.”

NORTH CAROLINA. Pat McCrory signs bill handicapping rival Roy Cooper who beat him in the November election: “North Carolina outgoing Governor Pat McCrory has just signed a bill rammed through both the House and the Senate designed to protect the Republican Party’s power. SB4 is “a complex, four-part, 25-page document that was introduced late Wednesday during the General Assembly’s fourth special session of the year,” NC Policy Watch’s Progressive Pulse reports.

HACKING. The FBI and CIA agree now that Russia hacked to help Trump: “Comey’s support for the CIA’s conclusion — and officials say that he never changed his position — suggests that the leaders of the three agencies are in agreement on Russian intentions, contrary to suggestions by some lawmakers that the FBI disagreed with the CIA.”

90s REDUX. Cast of new Duck Tales is announced, sings theme song.

PILLOWTALK. Zayn Malik named world’s sexiest Asian.

SCIENTOLOGY. Shelly Miscavige, wife of Scientology head David Miscavige, reportedly spotted looking “frail” after not being seen for years: “She was a thin, smaller woman, escorted by two men.”

CARIBBEAN. Gay Jamaican refugee helps others escape the anti-gay island nation: “Gay refugee Gareth Henry spends his free time saving the lives of LGBTQ people in Jamaica who need help escaping persecution or even death. The Caribbean nation remains one of 76 countries where consensual same-sex relationships are criminalized.”

ICH BIN EIN BERLINER. Berlin named best city in the world to be gay and single: “A close second was Fort Lauderdale, Florida (21 percent), followed by New Orleans (16 percent), Seattle (12 percent) and Vienna (7 percent). Berlin is renowned for holding a number of LGBT festivals each year, including Christopher Street Day celebrations dating back to 1979, and Berlin Pride. Hundreds of thousands partake in these events each year.”

THE AUDACITY OF HOPE? Michelle Obama to Oprah: “See, now we’re feeling what not having hope feels like,” Obama said. “Hope is necessary. It’s a necessary concept. What else do you have, if you don’t have hope?” she posits. “What do you give your kids if you can’t give them hope?”

FRIDAY FLESH. He is Michael.

The post Octavia Spencer, Pat McCrory, Scientology, Berlin, Jamaica, Michelle Obama: HOT LINKS appeared first on Towleroad.

Octavia Spencer, Pat McCrory, Scientology, Berlin, Jamaica, Michelle Obama: HOT LINKS

California lawmaker is more than just a proud grandpa of trans grandchild, he’s fighting for her

Well, 2016 isn’t over yet, but Mike Honda seems to have the Grandfather of the Year Award pretty much on lock. In a new interview, the California Democratic Congressmember talks about supporting his trans granddaughter, his pride in her, and his efforts to protect LGBTQ people.

Mike’s granddaughter is 10 years old now, and she’s been saying that she’s a girl since she was less than 2 years old, which is a fairly impressive feat. At three, she identified herself as Malisa, and she’s been on a journey of acceptance ever since. Her family, obviously, has been amazing.

Honda has been a legislator for many years, and his current efforts to protect the queer community include implementing educational programs that address gender as a spectrum, rather than a binary.

That’s particularly important now, with 2016 being one of the most dangerous on record for trans people. Records indicate that at least 26 trans people have been murdered this year — and that’s not including the tragic cases that are unreported.

“It took a long time for people just to be comfortable with the idea that the LGBs need to be protected and embraced and to understand them,” Honda said. “And this is the effort that we’re trying to do to make sure that people understand that every child is different, every person is different, and they’re a gift of God.”

www.queerty.com/california-lawmaker-just-proud-grandpa-trans-grandchild-hes-fighting-20161216?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Chris Carmack’s Gay Storyline Heats Up on Season 5 of ‘Nashville’ – WATCH

Nashville is moving to CMT for its fifth season and a new trailer has just been released promising plenty of steamy scenes for the show’s storyline featuring actor Chris Carmack.

As country star Will Lexington, Carmack plays a just out gay singer who’s starting to hit the dating scene.

Carmack’s romantic entanglements have already caused consternation among right wing-nuts. With things looking like they’re heating up–

–the folks over at NewsBusters may want to change the channel when Nashville hits CMT’s airwaves.

Watch the new trailer, below.

[h/t NNN]

The post Chris Carmack’s Gay Storyline Heats Up on Season 5 of ‘Nashville’ – WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.

Chris Carmack’s Gay Storyline Heats Up on Season 5 of ‘Nashville’ – WATCH

Trump Ally Calls for Incoming Administration to Purge the State Department of Pro-LGBTQ Employees

Today, HRC called on President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence to denounce comments made by Tony Perkins calling for a purge of pro-LGBTQ State Department employees. Perkins, a close Trump ally and the head of the rabidly anti-LGBTQ Family Research Council, called on the incoming administration to have pro-LGBTQ employees “ferreted out” and “replaced by conservatives.”

“Tony Perkins’ proposal to purge pro-LGBTQ employees from the State Department is beyond the pale,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “Perkins is hatefully suggesting pro-equality, career civil servants be rounded up and sent packing for doing their jobs.  The incoming administration should immediately denounce Perkins’ illegal and vindictive proposal. The State Department plays a crucially important role in America’s efforts to advance LGBTQ human rights around the globe. In countries with hostile anti-LGBTQ regimes — like Russia, Syria and Egypt — lives are literally at risk. Countless LGBTQ people depend on the State Department’s efforts, and we cannot and must not leave them behind.”

The Family Research Council (FRC) is known for virulent rhetoric that has earned them designation as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. FRC has a long history of demonization of LGBTQ people that has nothing to do with disagreements over public policy issues such as marriage equality or non-discrimination laws.  Among FRC’s many anti-LGBTQ statements devoid of facts are their linkages of gay people to pedophiles, their call for exporting gay people from the United States, their position that there should be criminal penalties for homosexuality, and their thoroughly debunked claim that one can change their sexual orientation.

The nomination of ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson to be Secretary of State has raised critical questions as to how a Trump administration plans to protect LGBTQ employees and contractors affiliated with the State Department, and whether it will continue American efforts to advance LGBTQ human rights through U.S. foreign policy. It wasn’t until 2015, following President Obama’s July 2014 executive order requiring federal contractors to protect LGBTQ workers from discrimination, that ExxonMobil added sexual orientation and gender identity to its non-discrimination policy for workers in the United States.

www.hrc.org/blog/trump-ally-calls-for-incoming-administration-to-purge-the-state-department?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed