Fatigue, Matthew Perry, Brooklyn, She Persisted, St. Patrick’s Day, North Korea, Rachel Maddow: HOT LINKS

ST. PATRICK’S DAY. Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny schools Trump on immigration.

Irish Prime Minister @EndaKennyTD tells @realDonaldTrump that for over 200 years, millions of Irish immigrants have called America home. pic.twitter.com/3mqZNIwl1Z

— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) March 17, 2017

FATIGUE. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson cuts his South Korean visit short due to “fatigue” after threatening North Korea with military action. “A joint news conference aside, Tillerson spent almost 2 1/2 hours with Japanese Foreign Minister Kishida including a dinner, and another hour with Prime Minister Abe. But his meetings with Yun and Hwang were each confined to about an hour, without a lunch or dinner gathering. Seoul officials said the US side opted not to have a meal together, citing the secretary’s ‘fatigue.’”

North Korea is behaving very badly. They have been “playing” the United States for years. China has done little to help!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 17, 2017

CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR. Trump looked like a third grader…

BIG RATINGS. Rachel Maddow’s tax return reveal was watched by 4.1 million viewers, her largest audience ever. “Tuesday’s episode of “The Rachel Maddow Show” that eventually revealed President Trump’s 2005 Form 1040 registered 4.1 total million viewers and 1.4 million the key 25-54 demographic advertisers covet most, according to Nielsen data. ”

LAWSUIT THREAT. Trump threatens legal action against MSNBC for tax return reveal.

BROOKLYN. Hasidic man gets four years for role in gang beating of gay black man.

CHELSEA CLINTON. She Persisted, a new children’s book. “I wrote this book for everyone who’s ever wanted to speak up but has been told to quiet down, for everyone who’s ever been made to feel less than.”

MATTHEW PERRY. I beat up Justin Trudeau. “I was a couple years ahead of him. I have a story about him that I’m not proud of … My friend Chris Murray, who was also in fifth grade in Canada, reminded me that we actually beat up Justin Trudeau.”

SELFIE PATROL. Secret Service agents under investigation for taking selfies with Donald Trump’s eight-year-old grandson while he slept: “The incident took place last weekend when the two agents, who were assigned to protect Trump III, were driving him from Westchester County, New York, where the Trump family has an estate, to Manhattan. Trump III was sleeping in the car when the agents began to take selfies with him while he was still asleep. Trump III woke up and, as the source framed it, “freaked out.” Upon return to Manhattan, he shared the experience with his mother, Vanessa Trump, who relayed her concerns to his father, Donald Trump Jr.”

MARIAH BROWN. Sister Wives star goes public with new girlfriend. “Brown, 21, went public with their romance by confirming her status as ‘in a relationship’ with Kriss on Facebook on February 19. Brown also shared an Instagram photo of herself alongside Kriss last month with the caption: ‘When your girlfriend is an artist, so you pretend to art for a day just for her.’”

HOW’D YOU GET SO RICH. London gay bar owner Gary Henshaw appears on Channel 4 show. “With an annual turnover of £3.5million and 5,000 customers through Ku Bar’s doors every weekend, former glass collector Gary isn’t short of cash.”

BBC INTERVIEW. This week a video went viral after children broke into an office where their dad was conducting a live interview. Here’s a parody about how a mom would handle the situation.

NOPE. A new vertigo-inducing glass sky bridge in China, on Mount Langya in Hebei.

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE DAY. Arca – “Reverie”.

MALE MODELS. Six rising male models share their biggest pet peeves.

NOSIEST NEIGHBOR EVER. This dog.

FRIDAY FLASH. Thierry Picaut.

The post Fatigue, Matthew Perry, Brooklyn, She Persisted, St. Patrick’s Day, North Korea, Rachel Maddow: HOT LINKS appeared first on Towleroad.

www.towleroad.com/2017/03/she-persisted/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+towleroad%2Ffeed+%28Towleroad+Gay+News+%29

The Power of Bisexual Visibility for Bi Health Awareness Month

Over the past year, we have seen more and more celebrities come out as bisexual. While bisexual individuals comprise nearly half of all the LGBTQ community, many struggle with coming out and a wide variety of health issues. In honor of Bisexual Health Awareness Month, HRC continues to tackle the many issues still facing the bisexual community and spotlights several public figures who are living openly and authentically, giving the bisexual community more voices than ever before.                                                                                                                             

1.    Aubrey Plaza
In July, actress Aubrey Plaza sat down with The Advocate to discuss her various acting roles, in addition to her relationship with the LGBTQ community, and in turn ended up coming out as bisexual.

When asked if women ever hit on her, the Parks and Recreation star responded, “Oh, yeah. I don’t mind. I know I have an androgynous thing going on, and there’s something masculine about my energy. Girls are into me – that’s no secret. Hey, I’m into them too. I fall in love with girls and guys. I can’t help it.”

2.    Mara Wilson
Following the horrific shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando on June 12, actress, author and former child star Mara Wilson opened up about her sexual orientation in a series of tweets after expressing heartbreak about the tragedy.

Being a “straight girl” where I clearly didn’t belong, but I will say, I felt so welcomed there.

— Mara Wilson (@MaraWilson) June 12, 2016

But the LGBTQ community has always felt like home, especially a few years later when I, uh, learned something about myself.

— Mara Wilson (@MaraWilson) June 12, 2016

So thank you.

— Mara Wilson (@MaraWilson) June 12, 2016

Shortly after, Twitter users began questioning Wilson about her statement and she responded:

Let me put it this way: I’m a 2. t.co/VA98ZK0a37

— Mara Wilson (@MaraWilson) June 13, 2016

I know a lot of people don’t like the Kinsey scale, and that is fine by me. But I’m pragmatic at heart and find comfort in numbers.

— Mara Wilson (@MaraWilson) June 13, 2016

3.    Kristen Stewart
While the media has gone on for months questioning Stewart’s private life, the actress took a stand while hosting Saturday Night Life earlier this year.  In a monologue on the show, she spoke about how President Trump wouldn’t like her, “Because I’m, like, so gay, dude.”

“Considering I had so many eyes on me, I suddenly realized [my private life] affects a greater number of people than just me,” Stewart told The Sunday Times of London. “It was an opportunity to surrender a bit of what was mine, to make even one other person feel good about themselves.”

“You’re not confused if you’re bisexual. It’s not confusing at all,” she told The Guardian. “For me, it’s quite the opposite.”

4.    Bella Thorne
In August, actress Bella Thorne shared photos and a video on Snapchat where she was kissing a girl, immediately prompting questions from fans.

When asked on Twitter if she was bisexual, Thorne replied:

Yes t.co/Ds0ov2Cnmu

— bella thorne (@bellathorne) August 23, 2016

She received an outpouring of love and a few hours later tweeted:

Aww thank you for all the accepting tweets from everyone. I love you guys ❤️❤️❤️ #pride

— bella thorne (@bellathorne) August 23, 2016

On Celebrate Bisexuality Day in September, Thorne posted a photo on Instagram a photo celebrating the community on Instagram:

 

Happy Bisexual Visibility Day! My best friend Bella and I went camping and made life time memories. Not only today but all days we should celebrate acceptance of others. Be who you want to be and it will take you to being your happiest self! #bivisibilityday #creepphotocreds to @dani_thorne #love

A post shared by BELLA (@bellathorne) on Sep 23, 2016 at 4:02pm PDT

5.    Sara Ramirez
“Grey’s Anatomy” star Sara Ramirez, a longtime HRC supporter and 2015 Ally for Equality honoree, made the brave decision to speak her truth in a speech at the 40 to None summit just days before National Coming Out Day 2016.

“Because of the intersections that exist in my own life — woman, multiracial woman, woman of color, queer, bisexual, Mexican-Irish American, immigrant and raised by families heavily rooted in Catholicism on both my Mexican and Irish sides — I am deeply invested in projects that allow our youth’s voices to be heard, and that support our youth in owning their own complex narratives so that we can show up for them in the ways they need us to,” Ramirez said.

Since coming out, Ramirez has served as a vocal leader of the LGBTQ community, and has continued to advocate for HRC, BiNet USA, the Bisexual Organizing Project, and the Bisexual Resource Center.

www.hrc.org/blog/the-power-of-bisexual-visibility-for-bi-health-awareness-month?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Trump's U.N. appointment exposes platform administration is giving anti-LGBTQ hate groups

www.glaad.org/blog/trumps-un-appointment-exposes-platform-administration-giving-anti-lgbtq-hate-groups

Donald Trump and Angela Merkel Hold Joint Press Conference: WATCH LIVE

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Donald Trump are scheduled to hold a joint press conference shortly. They shared an awkward moment earlier.

Click HERE to open this post in a new window.

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Donald Trump and Angela Merkel Hold Joint Press Conference: WATCH LIVE

New Mexico Legislature Sends Bill to Protect Youth from So-Called “Conversion Therapy” to Governor

Today, HRC hailed the New Mexico legislature for passing a bill banning so-called “conversion therapy” for minors. After clearing the Senate last month, the bill, SB 121, passed through the House this week by a vote of 44-23 and will now head to the governor’s desk.

New Mexico is a majority-minority, primarily Catholic state, and would be the eighth jurisdiction in the nation, including the District of Columbia, to protect youth under the age of eighteen from the harmful and discredited  practice of conversion therapy by state-licensed mental health professionals. There are currently 19 other state legislatures considering similar legislation.

“As a survivor of conversion therapy that occurred here in New Mexico, it’s been both challenging and gratifying to work to end this barbaric practice in my home state,” said Amber Royster, the Executive Director of Equality New Mexico. “I applaud our state legislature for choosing to protect New Mexico kids.”

“Conversion therapy is dangerous and inhumane, and HRC is very pleased to see New Mexico’s lawmakers stand up for the vulnerable children who could be subjected to this completely discredited practice,” said JoDee Winterhof, HRC’s Senior Vice President of Policy and Political. “This action sends a clear message to LGBTQ youth in New Mexico: you do not need fixing. We are grateful to Equality New Mexico and the lawmakers who championed this cause, and we hope the governor signs this bill into law as soon as possible.”

“I am proud of the New Mexico legislature,” said Senator Jacob Candelaria, one of the bill’s co-sponsors. “We joined together, across party lines, to say loud and clear that every New Mexico child deserves to be protected from abuse, to be loved and celebrated for who they are, and for the simple truth that all of our kids are born perfect.”

“As a legislator and a high school teacher, I am pleased the New Mexico legislature voted overwhelmingly to send a message of acceptance to our children and youth,” said Rep. G. Andres Romero, one of the bill’s co-sponsors.

“Conversion therapy,” sometimes referred to as “sexual orientation change efforts” or “reparative therapy,” is a range of dangerous and debunked practices that seek to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. These practices are based on the false premise that being LGBTQ is a mental illness that needs to be cured, a theory that has been rejected by every major medical and mental health organization for decades.

There is no credible evidence that conversion therapy can change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. To the contrary, research has clearly shown that these practices pose devastating health risks for LGBTQ young people. Use of these dangerous practices lead to depression, decreased self-esteem, substance abuse, homelessness and even suicidal behavior, which is why they are universally criticized by the American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, and American Medical Association.

HRC has partnered with the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and state equality groups across the nation to pass state legislation ending conversion therapy.​ California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, New York and Washington, D.C. currently have laws or regulations ​protecting LGBTQ minors from the dangerous practice.

More information on the lies and dangers of efforts to change sexual orientation or gender identity can be found here.

www.hrc.org/blog/new-mexico-legislature-sends-bill-to-protect-youth-from-so-called-conversio?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Find someone who looks at you the way Taron Egerton looks at Hugh Jackman

Collectively, the Internet has an insidious knack for making something out of nothing. This post is testament to that fact.

Related: Hugh Jackman Reveals He Has Sex Dressed As Wolverine — Ouch!

To make a non-story short: people are obsessing over a GIF featuring actor Taron Egerton and Hugh Jackman, and they’re making a big to-do out of it.

It’s easy to see why: it looks like Egerton’s gazing longingly at his Eddie the Eagle co-star Hugh Jackman with something approximating bedroom eyes.

The headline alone is worth the price of admission:

I’ve never seen anyone say choke me daddy with their eyes.

And for once, we recommend reading the comments.

“Find someone who looks at you the way Taron Egerton looks at Hugh Jackman,” says one commentator.

“He is literally staring longingly at his lips,” says another. “That is so hot.”

Another: “He had to close his mouth to stop himself from licking his lips.”

On and on — you get the point.

www.queerty.com/find-someone-looks-way-taron-egerton-looks-hugh-jackman-20170317?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Donald Trump Sent an Anti-LGBT Hate Group as Delegation to Key UN Meetings

Austin Ruse, C-FAM President

The Trump administration sent an SPLC-designated hate group as its delegation to a key UN meeting this week and some fear it’s a signal of what’s to come on LGBT rights.

Reuters reports:

The Center for Family and Human Rights (C-FAM) was named this week by the U.S. State Department to attend the U.N.’s Commission on the Status of Women, an annual set of high-level meetings on women’s equality and empowerment.

C-FAM has been listed as an anti-LGBTQ hate group by nonprofit civil rights group the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) for at least five years, said Heidi Beirich, director of the SPLC’s Intelligence Project.

“The way you get on our anti-gay hate list is basically if you demonize the gay population,” Beirich told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. “That’s how they ended up on the list.

“The move comes as decisions by President Donald Trump’s new administration raise fears of a rollback of LGBTQ rights.

Wrote SPLC in 2014:

Ruse and C-FAM have been lobbying against sexual and reproductive rights, abortion, and LGBT people at the UN and abroad for years. In 2012, Ruse and C-FAM even helped block a UN treaty protecting the rights of people with disabilities because, the groups claimed, it was “pro-abortion.” The wording of the document stated that people with disabilities should have access to healthcare, including “in the area of sexual and reproductive health and population-based public health programmes.”

C-FAM is an offshoot of the hardline anti-abortion group Human Life International (HLI, founded in 1981), whose ties to violent anti-abortionists and extreme tactics made it too controversial for the UN. Its founder, Paul Marx, a DC-based Catholic priest, also had a history of claiming that the pro-choice movement was full of Jews, who in his words, were perpetrating another Holocaust. HLI was denied consultative status in 1993, so it set up C-FAM in 1997 as its UN lobbying arm, and the organization shifted its rhetoric to include vague terminology like “traditional values” and “respect for sovereignty” (useful for countries that employ repressive policies and wish to avoid scrutiny for human rights violations).

This year C-FAM was approved for consultative status at the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), which is concerned with the world’s social, economic, and environmental issues. ECOSOC will review the organizations in July and in most cases, will approve consultative status. Non-governmental organizations that are granted this status then have access to ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies and the various human rights mechanisms of the UN and various special events organized by the President of the General Assembly.

If C-FAM is approved, expect even more international outreach and anti-LGBT propagandizing from Ruse. Over the years, he has railed against abortion and voiced support for laws criminalizing homosexuality. Last year, he voiced support for Russia’s anti-gay propaganda law (which criminalizes free speech with regard to homosexuality). Ruse called the law a noble quest for “human rights” and signed a joint statement (along with other anti-LGBT groups) in support of it.

Top image: Austin Ruse, C-FAM President.

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Donald Trump Sent an Anti-LGBT Hate Group as Delegation to Key UN Meetings