Laura Dern Calls Being There for Ellen DeGeneres's Coming-Out Moment a “Gift”

Dern lovingly recalls being involved in DeGeneres’s coming-out episode 20 years ago this week. 

www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/2017/4/26/laura-dern-calls-being-there-ellen-degeneress-coming-out-moment-gift

Republican Rep. in New Hampshire Tied to Creation of Misogynist Reddit Thread

Men’s rights activist Rep. Robert Fisher has been asked to resign after being tied to rape denial posts.

www.advocate.com/politics/2017/4/26/republican-rep-new-hampshire-tied-creation-misogynist-reddit-thread

WATCH: Why same-sex married couples are healthier than opposite-sex ones

www.queerty.com/watch-sex-married-couples-healthier-opposite-sex-ones-20170426?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

First HIV-positive gay asylum-seeker detained under Trump’s Draconian immigration policies
Davydov has been receiving his HIV medications in detention, but he has not been given access to a doctor, despite developing a fungal infection.

www.queerty.com/first-hiv-positive-gay-asylum-seeker-detained-trumps-draconian-immigration-policies-20170426?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Director James Gunn Suggests ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Sequel Has a Gay Character

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 hits theaters this upcoming week, and director James Gunn has hinted one of its characters will be LGBTQ.

The latest installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise features Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper returning as the spacefaring superhero team of the title. Digital Spy offers the following take:

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 director James Gunn has hinted that the next MCU movie might feature an LGBTQ protagonist. When asked if he had considered featuring a gay hero in the sequel, he told the Press Association:

“Absolutely. I would love to be able to. We might have already done that. I say watch the movie. Check it out. See what you think.”

We doubt that Drax or Star-Lord will be coming out in Guardians 2. If we were the guessing sort, we would predict that it will be one of the female stars – Nebula (Karen Gillan), Mantis (Pom Klementieff), or perhaps even Gamora (Zoe Saldana). Although we’d quite like to see Michael Rooker’s rangy outlaw Yondu introduce the gang to his hot alien husband.

Even if this ambiguous tidbit turns out to be a blip as with this year’s live-action Beauty and the Beast, the MCU has surpassed $10 billion at the box office, so inclusion in one of its films is no small thing. Gunn has previously stressed that the film would “not just pass, but run over the Bechdel test,” addressing the issues of inadequate female representation the franchise has had. It would seem that LGBTQ representation is another matter he would like to tackle.

The post Director James Gunn Suggests ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Sequel Has a Gay Character appeared first on Towleroad.

Director James Gunn Suggests ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Sequel Has a Gay Character

Anti-LGBTQ Bills in Tennessee Attempt to Undermine Supreme Court’s Marriage Equality Ruling

Post submitted by Hope Jackson, HRC Regional Field Organizer

These next couple of weeks could be crucial for LGBTQ equality in Tennessee. Seventeen anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced this session, and the Tennessee legislature will hold hearings on two of them this week.

Senate Bill (SB) 1085 and its House companion, House Bill (HB) 1111, known locally as the “LGBTQ Erasure” bills, attempt to undermine the impact of the Supreme Court’s marriage equality ruling by requiring that courts and federal agencies apply a plain meaning interpretation of gendered statutory language, including those involving the rights of husbands and wives.  This would exclude many same-sex spouses from protection, because courts could not interpret “husband” or “wife” to mean “spouse” under the law. This unconstitutional measure would be in direct conflict with state and federal law that requires gender-specific words be interpreted as gender-inclusive.

The measure would have both intended and unintended consequences. For example, a woman may not be able to place her wife’s name on the birth certificate of their child. In court proceedings, a married opposite-sex couple could be entitled to confidential communications, but not a married same-sex couple. The measure could even prohibit surrogacy for same-sex couples.

It could also have consequences beyond the LGBTQ community. For example, it would impact state constitutional protections for women by prohibiting state courts from reading the term “man” to also include “woman.” The Tennessee law requiring no “man’s” services or property be taken without consent or compensation could suddenly be interpreted to exclude the same protections for women.

This past week, the Senate Judiciary passed SB 1085, advancing the bill to the Senate floor for consideration. HB 1111 has already passed in the House and awaits Senate committee assignment. Procedurally, this measure (once on the Senate floor) could be fast tracked with a vote and sent to the governor’s desk where he could either veto, sign, or allow the bill to become law without signature approval.

Constitutional challenges and litigation will be inevitable if this measure becomes law, forcing the State of Tennessee to divert resources to defend against the bill. Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery issued an opinion, stating the proposed bill could create conflict with current state laws that would result in courts siding with Tennessee legislature’s expressed intent that “gender-specific words are to be construed as gender-inclusive.” If we have learned anything from North Carolina’s disastrous HB2, these unnecessary bills could cost economic distress, damage the state’s reputation and place the burden on Tennessee taxpayers to litigate the costs of discrimination.  

SB 1085/HB 1111 is scheduled for a hearing on the Senate floor on Thursday, April 27 at 8:30 a.m. CT. HRC in partnership with Tennessee Equality Project, ACLU of Tennessee and Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition, will continue to monitor and oppose SB 1085/HB 1111 and any other legislation that negatively impacts LGBTQ equality.

If you live in Tennessee, contact your legislators now to oppose SB 1085/HB 1111 and other anti-LGBTQ legislation in your state. For more information about how to get involved in Tennessee, contact HRC’s Regional Field Organizer Hope Jackson at [email protected].  

www.hrc.org/blog/anti-lgbtq-bills-in-tennessee-attempt-to-undermine-supreme-courts-marriage?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Lena Dunham Has No Regrets About 'Girls'

The creator and showrunner of the HBO drama reflected on its legacy and past controversies at the Tribeca Film Festival.

www.advocate.com/television/2017/4/26/lena-dunham-has-no-regrets-about-girls

Rugby team cordially invites you into the locker room to ogle their undressed adventures
Why is the cameraman filming on his knees?

www.queerty.com/rugby-team-cordially-invites-locker-room-ogle-undressed-adventures-20170426?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Jonathan Demme, Michael Flynn, Adidas, Henry Cavill, Stretch Fashion, Shark Kayak: HOT LINKS

RIP. Director Jonathan Demme.

MARK GREEN. Trump Army Secretary nominee accuses liberal left of painting him as a hater: “The New York Times reported LGBT groups’ criticism of Trump’s selection of Green as Army secretary earlier this month. The American Military Partner Association, the largest group of LGBT military families, said Green has made “a shameful political career out of targeting LGBT people for discrimination.” The group’s president, Ashley Broadway-Mark, added that Green has a “vicious, anti-LGBT record” and “cannot be trusted to ensure all those who serve have the support they need and deserve.”

TITANIC. Senator Chuck Schumer says Michael Flynn revelations might be tip of the iceberg: “The disturbing news that General Flynn may have violated the law in connection with his security clearance may be just the tip of the iceberg,” the lawmaker said in a statement. “These revelations highlight the importance of the intelligence committee working in a bipartisan way to request and receive documents with respect to any financial arrangements Flynn and others in similar positions may have had with foreign governments.”

STEPHEN PORT. Grindr serial killer’s drug dealer walks free from court: “Gerald Matovu, 23, dealt the twisted murderer Class B drug mephedrone, known as Meow Meow, and GHB between July and August 2015. Port, 42, is serving a life prison sentence for the murders of Anthony Walgate, 23, Gabriel Kovari, 22, Daniel Whitworth, 21, and Jack Taylor, 25, over a 15 month period in 2014 and 2015…Matovu was sentenced today to 12 months’ community service, 150 hours of unpaid work and 40 days of drug rehabilitation.”

SURPRISE. Jennifer Hudson got a huge one from Ellen DeGeneres.

PULSE ORLANDO. Nightclub owner to announce plans for memorial: “As the one-year anniversary of the Pulse terror attack nears, the nightclub’s owner, Barbara Poma, next week will announce details about plans for a permanent memorial at the scene of the nation’s largest mass shooting.”

WORLD OUTGAMES. Adidas to sponsor LGBT-focused sporting and human rights event that will be held in Miami starting May 26: “The relationship between Adidas and the World OutGames—which the parties are describing as more a collaborative partnership rather than a strict sponsorship—is one of several moves that Adidas has made to promote outreach to the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community.”

OBAMA FAGGOT OBAMA DYKE. Vandal sprays homophobic graffiti on Queens garages. “It has happened before,” Montaudouin said. “In fact, regularly. Every time we patch it over, it comes back. I don’t even understand where it comes from. It started during Trump’s election. We figured they’d get over it. It’s mind blowing.”

INSTAUPDATE. Selena Gomez, Jensen Ackles, Adam Lambert, Kellan Lutz, Justin Theroux, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Henry Cavill.

TIME TO STRETCH. Men’s fashion embraces stretch fabric: “Clothing retailers used to whisper about the stretch in their mens clothing, out of fear of scaring away men. This spring, the whisper is becoming a shout.”

GUEST APPEARANCES. Harry Styles is coming to stay with James Corden, for a week.

KAYAK FISHING. Always hope you don’t accidentally snag a 7-foot Bull shark.

REVERSE OF SHAME. Driver trying to illegally pass a long line of traffic is forced to back up, very badly.

HUMP DAY HOTTIE. Luis Meza.

The post Jonathan Demme, Michael Flynn, Adidas, Henry Cavill, Stretch Fashion, Shark Kayak: HOT LINKS appeared first on Towleroad.

Jonathan Demme, Michael Flynn, Adidas, Henry Cavill, Stretch Fashion, Shark Kayak: HOT LINKS