LGBTQ youth stories stand strong among the 28th Annual #glaadawards nominees

www.glaad.org/blog/lgbtq-youth-stories-stand-strong-among-28th-annual-glaadawards-nominees

This “fabulous husky gaysian” comedian is so over your white supremacy

Peter Kim is a Chicago-based comedian and self-described “fabulous husky gaysian” and he has something to say about the subtle tones of white supremacy he is forced to deal with on a near daily basis.

Kim recalls going to an audition where a man complimented him for being “almost white.”

“Me, an Asian-American, being almost white? Meaning what?” Kim asks. “That I’m not black or Latino or any skin complexion darker than white? In saying so, he’s assuming that white people are the default race in this country, that I am almost normal.”

Related: Bottom Shame With A Side Of “No Asian”: A Message For All You Racist Grindr Users Out There

“And this isn’t some ignorant racist,” he adds. “This is a liberal creative person living in Chicago.”

But it doesn’t stop there. Kim says the problem is everywhere.

“You see, this happens to me all the time, even in places I never thought would exist,” he explains. “See, I’m a Korean man who’s also gay. And when I finally came out and downloaded the dating app Grindr–spoiler alert, ain’t nobody dating on Grindr–I was overwhelmed by profiles saying no fems, no fats, no Asians.”

“And I would say to myself, well, that can’t be me, because, according to my mom, I’m not fat, I’m husky.”

Related: Asian Man Fed Up With Being Ignored By The “White-Painted Gay Community”

And then there is the question he can’t seem to escape no matter where he goes.

“When I get asked the question where are you from, and I respond, ‘Oh, New York,’ most of the time, well-meaning white people get upset and ask, ‘You know what I mean. Where are you from-from?’” Kim says. “My boyfriend, who is from Minnesota, whose family has roots in Sweden, never has to explain where he’s from-from.”

Watch below.

h/t: PBS

www.queerty.com/fabulous-husky-gaysian-comedian-white-supremacy-20170131?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Norway’s Lutheran Church Votes to Include Gay Marriages

Norway’s Lutheran Church has formally amended its rituals to permit the inclusion of same-sex marriages. Pastors may now perform them with gender-neutral terms in place of “bride” and “groom.”

While the church had previously taken the step to bless same-sex unions in an April conference last year, its ceremonial language had not yet been altered to reflect this development.

“I hope that all Churches in the world can be inspired by this new liturgy,” said Gard Sandaker-Nielsen (pictured), leader of the Open Public Church, a movement within the Lutheran Church that campaigned to change the rules.

The change is similarly to those taken in recent years by other Protestant denominations, including the French Protestant Church in 2015, as well as the U.S. Presbyterian Church. However, the Church of England has just issued its decision to continue its non-recognition of gay marriages.

Norway itself has long been accepting of gay unions, having allowed civil partnerships since 1993 before fully legalizing same-sex marriage in 2009. Close to three-fourths of Norwegians claim membership in its Lutheran church.

(photo: Twitter)

The post Norway’s Lutheran Church Votes to Include Gay Marriages appeared first on Towleroad.

Norway’s Lutheran Church Votes to Include Gay Marriages

New LGBTQ docu-series “Other Boys NYC” to premiere on SLAY TV

www.glaad.org/blog/new-lgbtq-docu-series-other-boys-nyc-premiere-slay-tv

Charlie Carver reflects on his coming out experience one year later

Actor Charlie Carver came out via a moving, five-part Instagram essay one year ago and recently sat down with Entertainment Tonight to reflect on his life before and after.

Carver said he was inspired to come out after seeing a sign that read, “Be who you needed when you were younger.” He said he was “a proud gay man” but “was of the opinion that my sexuality could stay off the table.”

Carver, who came out to his family when he was 17, said he was changed in part by the experience of making the movie “I Am Michael,” a new biopic about Michael Glatze, a gay activist who renounced his homosexuality and embraced religion and the ex-gay movement.

Related: Ex-Ex-Gay says celibacy makes him feel like Jesus, so you should try it, too!

He tells Entertainment Tonight that working with an out filmmaker, Justin Kelly, and actor, Zachary Quinto, gave him perspective.

“I’m so glad to have met, worked with and become friends with Zach,” he says. “He’s somebody who I admire very much and somebody who has carried who he is out in the public in a very admirably way.”

Carver also has a small part in Dustin Lance Black‘s upcoming ABC miniseries “When We Rise,” about the fight for LGBTQ rights in America.

“For me, I wanted to feel I was in a place where I could work comfortably and where I felt like I had something to say,” Carver says. “Part of my decision to come out was because I was ready to take on that conversation in a more public forum.”

He appears to not fear being typecast, saying he will proudly take on more gay roles.

“One thing I warned myself to do is never to be afraid to take another gay part, especially a well-written one,” he asserts. “I just think, How can I create? How can I have the career I want, but also, how can I contribute to expanding the narrative available to LGBT people and the narrative for people to see? I think there are a lot of stories that happen to include LGBT voices that aren’t told.”

“Having out actors playing out people is important, in terms of representation,” he adds.

Kelly describes getting goosebumps from Carver’s acting in “I Am Michael,” saying he was able to make you feel not only for his character but also for Michael’s character, “who at that moment is so clearly lost and confused.”

Related: ABC bumps LGBTQ rights miniseries “When We Rise” to cover more Trump

In “When We Rise,” Carver plays a U.S. Navy soldier who has a secret relationship with soldier-turned-gay activist Ken Jones.

Carver explains that his research for the part took him to a special place:

“In trying to situate myself and imagine what it would have been like living at that time, I came across a couple of people,” he says, specifically highlighting the story of Leonard Matlovich, a Vietnam War veteran who was dishonorably discharged from the Air Force and later died of complications from AIDS. Now buried in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C., his tombstone reads: “When I was in the military, they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one.”

“His tombstone is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever read,” Carver says after reading it aloud over the phone. “I think it speaks a lot to what this series is trying to get across.”

He is also working on some projects with his twin brother, Max, with whom he often works, including appearing in the film “Fist Fight,” with Charlie Day and Ice Cube, as well as developing the series “Blooms” for MTV.

He reports being excited to see his two solo efforts coming out when they are, hoping it helps him carve out a place in the acting world all his own.

Related: A Sundance feature that includes genuinely hot gay sex scenes? Yes, please

“Out of all the things I have worked on individually, I am really excited for these to be coming out when they are,” he says. “There’s a lot to look forward to this year.”

www.queerty.com/charlie-carver-reflects-coming-experience-one-year-later-20170131?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Methodist Minister Outed and Ousted for Being Gay 35 Years Ago to Receive Public Apology: VIDEO

A Methodist church in Wisconsin is set to publicly apologize to a reverend who in 1981 was forced to leave after being outed by a member of the congregation.

First United Methodist Church in Kenosha will offer the apology to Reverend Kevin Johnson this coming weekend during its Weekend of Reconciliation.

A private conversation with a church member who questioned his sexuality was made public, which triggered the backlash against him.

RELATED: Over 100 United Methodist Clergy Come Out As Gay To Protest Ban On ‘Practicing Homosexual’ Pastors: VIDEO

It is thought to be the first time a United Methodist Church has reconciled publicly with a former pastor following the 1972 decree that “the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.”

Now living in Palm Springs, California, Johnson told the Desert Sun:

“More years have passed since my dismissal than my age when I first entered the church’s doors.

“Their 1981 rejection devastated my career dreams. I had to build a new life in the business world.

“For years, it was very difficult for me to be a part of a church organization. It was very difficult for the first decade after. I barely went to church at all. I had lost all confidence in human beings who claimed to be loving persons in the Christian church.”

He added that while the rejection by the church separated him from his profession for 20 years, was never separated from his faith. He has since co-founded Bloom in the Desert Ministries, “a safe space and sanctuary for anyone experiencing spiritual abuse and religious discrimination related to gender identity, sexual orientation or ethnic heritage.”

First United Reverend Justin Elliott Lowe said:

“I think the whole idea of sexuality in the Bible and what kind of gets explained as the ‘Christian’ understanding of sexuality isn’t quite accurate and isn’t quite theologically grounded.

“People just say ‘[homosexuality] is in the Bible; here’s what it says,’ when there are so many layers and things are misinterpreted between Greek and Hebrew to English.

You can be a Christian and be gay — and practice your sexuality.”

Jessica DeBoer, a member of the church’s Reconciling Committee, said First United has made a commitment to welcome everyone as equals.

“It’s very exciting,” DeBoer said. “I think as more people know about it, it will help bring people in. It’s really important that we welcome everybody.”

“This is absolutely a huge part of our past as a church family,” she added. “It was the elephant in the room, especially now that we have openly become this accepting congregation.”

Watch Johnson’s January 29 message to his congregation below.

The post Methodist Minister Outed and Ousted for Being Gay 35 Years Ago to Receive Public Apology: VIDEO appeared first on Towleroad.

Methodist Minister Outed and Ousted for Being Gay 35 Years Ago to Receive Public Apology: VIDEO

In Defense of Madonna

Welcome to the Trump resistance, General Madonna. We need you more now than ever.

www.advocate.com/commentary/2017/1/31/defense-madonna

Leg Locks and Takedowns at Singlet Night (Photos)

www.advocate.com/photography/2017/1/31/leg-locks-and-takedowns-singlet-night-photos