Joe Keery, Gay Panic, Lindsay Lohan, Michael Flynn, Wheel of Fortune, Justin Bieber, Osage Nation: HOT LINKS

NORTH KOREA. Missile test fails: “A North Korean missile fired Wednesday exploded “within seconds of launch,” according to US Pacific Command. US officials confirmed North Korea had attempted to launch a missile near Kalma, on the country’s east coast, but early reports suggest it failed. ‘South Korea and the US are aware of the missile launch and to their knowledge North Korea’s missile was not successfully launched,’ South Korea’s Ministry of Defense said in a statement.”

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY. Trump to give commencement address at Falwell university: “I look forward to speaking to this amazing group of students on such a momentous occasion,” President Trump exclusively tells CBN News. Calling it an honor, the president also told us, “Our children truly are the future and I look forward to celebrating the success of this graduating class as well as sharing lessons as they embark on their next chapter full of hope, faith, optimism, and a passion for life.”

A STREETCAR NAKED DESIRE. Wheel of Fortune perv makes terrible mistake.

NO ETHICS. Michael Flynn never signed Trump pledge: “The pledge, imposed by executive order a week after President Donald Trump took office, bars all federal appointees from lobbying their former colleagues for five years after leaving the administration and bans them from lobbying on behalf of foreign governments for life. Confirmation that Flynn did not sign the pledge comes amid controversy over his lobbying last year on behalf of a company linked to the Turkish government. Flynn belatedly acknowledged that the work may have benefitted that government and notified the Justice Department’s foreign agent division months after the work took place, and after he had resigned from his White House post.”

POLL. 3% of Trump voters regret their vote.

OSAGE NATION. Tribe votes to change definition of marriage: “The tribe will now define marriage as a union between “two persons” rather than ‘a man and a woman.’ More than 1,100 people sent in absentee ballots but only 347 people showed up for onsite balloting during a two-day early voting period and on Monday, the actual election day.”

BUENOS AIRES. Subway station named for gay activist Carlos Jauregui.

Desde hoy es Santa Fe – #CarlosJáuregui: t.co/k9UgU7Mxr6 #OrgulloBA @DHumanosBA @Maxiferraro @PabloRFerreyra @CarlosTomada pic.twitter.com/5gmguRqslw

— BA Subte (@basubte) March 20, 2017

OHIO. Akron to add LGBT people to list of protected classes and establish a local civil rights commission.

IDAHO. First Lady mocks Caitlyn Jenner’s transition.

INSTAGRAM. Justin Bieber got a really unfortunate eagle tattoo. More Insta updates from Chace Crawford, Pietro Boselli, Taylor Lautner, Scott Eastwood, Nico Tortorella, and Drake HERE.

QUEENSLAND. Gay Panic defense abolished in Australian state: “The code previously enabled the measure to be used as a partial defense to murder if an unwanted sexual advance had been made toward the accused in Queensland. It was most famously used in 2008 when 45-year-old Wayne Ruks was killed by two men, Jason Pearce and Richard Meerdink, who claimed Ruks made advances at one of them.”

SOUTH CAROLINA. Judge says gay couple have been married for decades: “Now, in what legal experts and Parks’ lawyers say is a groundbreaking case for South Carolina, and possibly for other states with common law marriage, a Family Court judge in York County has ruled that Parks and her former partner had a common law marriage under state law. And the state must recognize that their common law marriage has been legal for almost 30 years, the judge ruled.”

TEXAS. LGBT march in Abilene: “Over two dozen LGBT supporters marched throughout the streets of downtown Abilene. Insperation Sanchez, a citizen of Abilene, told KRBC that the event was a great opportunity to teach her four-year-old daughter about the cause, because in her household, she doesn’t teach hate.”

LINDSAY LOHAN. She’s got a new reality show.

❤RT❤ if you are excited about my new show ? pic.twitter.com/rNjR47Ngkd

— Lindsay Lohan (@lindsaylohan) March 22, 2017

JOE KEERY. Stranger Things actor recreates iconic Ferris Bueller scene for Domino’s.

HUMP DAY HOTTIE. Adrian Esmeris.

The post Joe Keery, Gay Panic, Lindsay Lohan, Michael Flynn, Wheel of Fortune, Justin Bieber, Osage Nation: HOT LINKS appeared first on Towleroad.

Joe Keery, Gay Panic, Lindsay Lohan, Michael Flynn, Wheel of Fortune, Justin Bieber, Osage Nation: HOT LINKS

More Than 115 Anti-LGBTQ Bills Introduced in 30 States

As lawmakers continue to meet in state capitols around the country, HRC is tracking more than 115 anti-LGBTQ bills in 30 states.* The states are: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Here are a few states and pieces of legislation to keep a close eye on in the coming weeks:

Alabama

Alabama House moved forward HB 24, a bill that would allow state-licensed and funded child-placing agencies to disregard the best interest of children and turn away qualified Alabamians seeking to care for a child in need — including LGBTQ couples, interfaith couples, single parents, married couples in which one prospective parent has previously been divorced, or other parents to whom the agency has a religious objection. The measure would even allow agencies to refuse to place foster children with members of their own extended families — a practice often considered to be in the best interest of the child. A qualified, loving LGBTQ grandparent, for example, could be deemed unsuitable under the proposed law. The Alabama legislature is on break now until the first of April.

Arkansas

After introducing a slew of anti-LGBTQ bills on the last day of bill filing, Arkansas lawmakers continued last week to go after LGBTQ people. On Wednesday, a senate judiciary committee held a hearing around SB 774, an anti-trans bill reminiscent of provisions of HB2 that would restrict the use of restroom and locker room facilities in public buildings to a single sex, defined as “a person’s immutable biological sex as objectively determined by anatomy and genetics existing at the time of birth.” And on Friday, HB 1986 passed out of the House. This piece of anti-trans legislation could effectively make it criminal for a transgender person to access a sex-segregated space consistent with their gender identity. Meanwhile, both HB1894 and HB1628 failed in committee.

Kentucky

On Friday, Governor Bivens signed SB 17 into law, making it the second anti-LGBTQ bill to be enacted in the 2017 legislative session. This legislation will allow student groups at public high schools, colleges and universities to discriminate against LGBTQ students and use public funds to do so.

New Mexico 

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

North Carolina

Even with the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships underway, the North Carolina legislature continues their inertia in addressing HB2. With the start of the tournament last week, HRC and Equality North Carolina came together with students from multiple universities and colleges in Greensboro to call attention to the fact that games that would have been played in Greensboro were moved to Greenville, SC, due to HB2. And mid-week, the NCAA responded to a public letter from 80 organizations with a strong affirmation of their commitment to only consider tournament cities that have inclusive protections.

This Thursday marks the one-year anniversary of the passage of HB2.

Tennessee

Tennessee continues to have one of the busiest legislative sessions, with lawmakers considering 17 anti-LGBTQ bills, many of which are moving quickly through committees. Bills include:

1. HB 888, a bill that would deny transgender students access to the correct bathrooms and locker rooms at both K-12 and public universities in Tennessee. It was deferred yesterday to next week’s calendar of the Education Administration & Planning subcommittee.
2. Today, SB 771, the companion anti-transgender bathroom and locker room bill, was heard in the Senate Education Committee. The bill failed in the Senate Education committee; failing to receive a motion to be heard. The House companion, HB 888, will be heard next week. 
3. HB 892, known as the “TN Natural Marriage Defense Act,” a bill that seeks to defy the Supreme Court of the United States ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, was been rolled to next week’s Civil Justice Subcommittee calendar.
4. HB 54 known as the “Business License to Discriminate bill,” is awaiting consideration in the House State Government Subcommittee. The senate companion, SB 127 has already passed through the senate.

Live in Tennessee? Send a warning to your elected officials to reject the Slate of Hate!

Texas

Last week, with a 21-10 vote, the Texas Senate approved SB 6, the anti-trans legislation moving in the state. All republicans and one democrat supported the bill. The vote came after more than four hours of debate in front of a packed Senate Chamber. The bill now moves to the House where it’s path is much more uncertain. Already this week, nearly a thousand activists from across the state gathered Monday in Austin for All In For Equality advocacy day to oppose SB6 and the 16 other anti-LGBTQ bills in the Lone Star State.

Add your voice to theirs by opposing anti-LGBTQ legislation in the Lone Star State through our Virtual Lobby Day.

Utah

Before adjourning sine die early last week, the Utah Senate gave final approval to HB 369, a bill that enhances penalties for HIV and Hepatitis B and C nondisclosure. The bill currently awaits action by Governor Gary Herbert.

HRC is calling on our members and supporters to pledge to oppose any discriminatory legislation. Take action today.

*Note – HRC and other organizations use different criteria for labeling bills as anti-LGBTQ, therefore numbers may not align across organizations.

www.hrc.org/blog/more-than-115-anti-lgbtq-bills-introduced-in-30-states?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

GLAAD applauds Tennessee State Senate for stopping destructive anti-trans bill

www.glaad.org/blog/glaad-applauds-tennessee-state-senate-stopping-destructive-anti-trans-bill

This strapping young cowboy says he’ll “never be silenced” by homophobic haters

Josh Goyne, a.k.a. “The Gay Cowboy,” is a teenage bull rider and LGBTQ activist from Australia’s Central Coast. He lives in rural Australia, which still has a problem with homophobia, and which he is no stranger to.

“Today I was asked if I thought it was good that gays died of AIDS, and then the guy said he wished it was 1850 so he could shoot me for being a fag,” 18-year-old Goyne said in a recent video posted to his Facebook page.

“Kudos to you mate,” Goyne replied. “You’re a real prick and I hope everything that comes to you is karma.”

Regardless of how you may feel about rodeos, wishing a gay teenager death by AIDS is not OK. Luckily, Goyne, who came out when he was 15, is not letting the threats get the best of him.

Related: PHOTOS: Take A Trip To Brokeback Mountain With These Rugged Aussie Cowboys

“They think they’re gonna silence me, but there’s no chance in hell,” Goyne says in the video. “They think they’re gonna stop me from riding in this week’s rodeo, not a chance in hell. I will proudly stand up to any homophobe and say right to their face that I’m a proud openly gay cowboy.”

Goyne says he alerted police about the threats and says he will not be intimidated by anyone. In fact, his tagline on Facebook is, “Homophobia. It stops with me.”

“I will happily give a voice to those too scared to speak up,” he says.

In an interview with news.com.au, Goyne says the response to his video has been “99.9% brilliant,” adding, “I’ve even had straight cowboys say they will help me out at the rodeo and stand with if I have any trouble.”

“Rural Australia has a terrible problem with homophobia,” he says. “It needs to stop.”

Watch Goyne’s Facebook video below.

h/t: Outsports

www.queerty.com/strapping-young-cowboy-says-hell-never-silenced-homophobic-haters-20170322?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

WH Press Sec’y Sean Spicer Holds Briefing Amid Health Care Battle, Manafort Revelations, Gorsuch Hearings, London Terror: WATCH NOW

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer is scheduled to hold a press briefing at 1:30 pm. Possible questioning could include the Gorsuch nomination, the faltering Trumpcare bill, the London terror incident, and news that Paul Manafort accepted a $10 million contract to support Vladimir Putin’s interests.

The post WH Press Sec’y Sean Spicer Holds Briefing Amid Health Care Battle, Manafort Revelations, Gorsuch Hearings, London Terror: WATCH NOW appeared first on Towleroad.

WH Press Sec’y Sean Spicer Holds Briefing Amid Health Care Battle, Manafort Revelations, Gorsuch Hearings, London Terror: WATCH NOW

Stories of LGBTQ survival in Jamaica featured at SXSW

www.glaad.org/blog/stories-lgbtq-survival-jamaica-featured-sxsw

My Gay Rap Duo Might Save America

Conor Fetting-Smith’s new web series, Butch & Nellie Take the Rap Game, is inspired by his own career creating “dope-ass beats” with cutting queer commentary.

www.advocate.com/commentary/2017/3/22/my-gay-rap-duo-might-save-america

But of course Donald Trump is giving the commencement speech at a university that bans LGBTQ people

Nobody respects the rights of LGBTQ people more than Donald J. Trump… which is precisely why he will be delivering the commencement speech at antigay Liberty University later this year.

In a statement given exclusively to the Christian Broadcasting Network, Trump said:

I look forward to speaking to this amazing group of students on such a momentous occasion. Our children truly are the future and I look forward to celebrating the success of this graduating class as well as sharing lessons as they embark on their next chapter full of hope, faith, optimism, and a passion for life. …And homophobia.

OK, OK. We added that last part.

Liberty University likes to boast that it’s “the largest private Christian university in the world.” It was founded in 1971 by Jerry Falwell, one of the most strident homophobes in America right up until his death in 2007.

The university has come under fire in recent years for its stances on all things LGBTQ. In 2006, for instance, it banned all LGBTQ student groups on the grounds of “morality.” And in 2014, it filed for an exemption from federal anti-discrimination laws so it could openly discriminate against LGBTQ people.

The school also has a no gay sex policy. Upon enrolling, students are forced to sign a statement promising not to engage in homosexual sexual relations, or sex with a transgender person. The official policy states: “Sexual relations outside of a Biblically ordained marriage between a natural-born man and natural-born woman are not permissible at Liberty University.”

Liberty University’s president and Trump’s BFF Jerry Falwell Jr. said they’re totally psyched that Donald will be speaking at this year’s graduation ceremony.

“His supporters, including over 80% of the evangelical community, are thrilled with President Trump’s actions so far,” he tells the Christian Broadcasting Network. “The fact that the mainstream media and the Establishment (on the left and the right) remain in attack mode with their often baseless and dishonest claims against Trump is a sign that President Trump is doing a wonderful job.”

In other news, in the most recent Gallup poll, Trump’s approval ratings reached another historic low. He’s currently less popular than any U.S. President in over 70 years of polling.

Related: Thanks to millennials, Trump’s approval ratings are worse than any president in over 70 years

www.queerty.com/course-donald-trump-giving-commencement-speech-university-bans-lgbtq-people-20170322?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29