Jack’d Adds GPS ‘Blurring Feature’ to Protect Gay Americans From Hate Crimes

The gay dating app incorporated the feature, formerly used in antigay nations like Saudi Arabia, in response to the vitriol of the U.S. election.

www.advocate.com/business/2017/8/01/jackd-adds-gps-blurring-feature-protect-gay-americans-hate-crimes

Men Missing From Toronoto’s Gay Village Could Be Connected to Three Open Cases: VIDEO

Toronto police have voiced concerns that the disappearance of two gay men from the city’s gay village could be linked to three other men who have not been seen for more than five years.

The recent missing persons cases of 44-year-old Selim Esen (above right) and 49-year-old Andrew Kinsman (above left) are being viewed as suspicious.

According to Global News, Esen was last seen on April 14th while Kinsman was last spotted on June 26th.

Andrew Kinsman, 49, was last seen June 26, and Selim Esen, 44, was last seen April 14.t.co/F6NNEW3FwL

— TorontoNews (@torontonews3) July 29, 2017

In a press release last Friday, Toronto police confirmed that they are investigating whether the two missing persons cases are connected.

Vice reports that the latest cases bear a striking resemblance to the disappearance of three men from the village between 2010 and 2012.

RELATED: Rehoboth Beach Police Department Issues Alert for Missing Gay Man

Detective Sergeant Michael Richmond noted in the press release that while “some members of the community and media have made a connection between the disappearance of Mr. Kinsman and that of 11 other males,” that line of enquiry is factually incorrect and “quite misleading.” However, police have admitted that they are concerned about possible links to the 2010-2012 cases. All three of those men were in their 40s or early 50s, were Arab or East Asian, and frequented the same venues on Church Street in the village.

Vice notes:

There are reasons to suspect that the cases are merely an eerie coincidence. Kinsman is white, meaning he doesn’t quite fit the profile established by the first three men to disappear.. The five year gap between when the last man when missing, in 2012, and these two cases also suggests that, while they may be suspicious, the causes of these disappearances are unrelated.

Yet there are similarities. Esen fits the profile to a T. Of the five cases, all are of similar age, build, and all have facial hair.

Even more strangely, a hypothesis floated by an internet sleuth on an online message board some four years ago also rings true: All of the disappearances have been around holiday weekends. Kinsman, over Pride. Esen, over Easter. The previous three cases: Labour Day, Christmas, Thanksgiving.

Amid fears that police aren’t taking these cases seriously, Richmond said the investigation into Kinsman’s disappearance was in the process of “ramping up,” and police were getting set to conduct another search of his apartment.

A community town hall has been organized for August to address the recent cases. Richmond has said he intends to make himself available for the meeting.

Watch a Global News report below.

(All images via Global News report)

The post Men Missing From Toronoto’s Gay Village Could Be Connected to Three Open Cases: VIDEO appeared first on Towleroad.

Men Missing From Toronto’s Gay Village Could Be Connected to Three Open Cases: VIDEO

You Tell Us: Are LGBT Hate Crimes on the Rise?

Help The Advocate document the hate targeting our community.

www.advocate.com/politics/2017/8/01/you-tell-us-are-lgbt-hate-crimes-rise

Hollis Bulleit, daughter of Bulleit Bourbon founder, slams family business for years of homophobia
“Everything is not okay. Everything is far from okay.”

www.queerty.com/hollis-bulleit-daughter-bulleit-bourbon-founder-slams-family-business-years-homophobia-20170801?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Feds Ask Witnesses in Aaron Schock Case if Former Congressman is Gay, Whether His Girlfriend Was Fake

Aaron Schock’s lawyers say witnesses in the case against the former congressman have been asked “distasteful, offensive,” and “prejudicial” questions about every facet of Schock’s sex life including whether he is gay and if his girlfriend was a beard.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

“The government has investigated nearly every facet of Mr. Schock’s professional, political, and personal life. This even includes his sex life. It is no secret that there has long been speculative gossip in the media about Mr. Schock’s sexual orientation.

“For no apparent reason, the government has felt itself compelled to investigate this too. Indeed, from the very inception of this investigation, the government has discussed with witnesses whether Mr. Schock is gay, whether he really ‘dated’ his ex-girlfriend (a highly accomplished diplomat and attorney), and whether he spent the night or shared hotel rooms with her.

Schock’s troubles began when photos of his Downton Abbey-inspired congressional office leaked and it was then discovered that he illegally accepted a designer’s services for free. 

In March of 2015, the FBI began an investigation into Schock’s spending habits, an investigation that ultimately revealed “untoward allegations” about Schock that would damage his reputation, according to his lawyers. Schock faces a 24-count indictment for filing false tax returns and covering up fraud schemes, and using government and campaign funds improperly.

The disgraced anti-gay Illinois lawmaker resigned from his seat in 2015 after questions arose about his alleged misuse of funds.

RELATED: Aaron Schock Quotes Taylor Swift When Cornered About ‘Downton’ Office: ‘Haters Gonna Hate’ — VIDEO

The paper adds:

Schock’s lawyers make the point that Schock’s sex life — whether gay or straight — is not germane and out of legal bounds, arguing investigators crossed a line with the “government’s inappropriate, irrelevant, and highly prejudicial questioning of witnesses about Mr. Schock’s sexual orientation and romantic relationships.”

Moreover, “The government’s apparent obsession with Mr. Schock’s sexuality and whether he “dated” Karla Gonzalez was fueled from the very first conversation with the government’s confidential informant,” Schock’s defense team argued.

Schock has long been rumored to be gay. In an interview given after Schock resigned from office, Schock’s father said that his son is not gay.

As a Republican lawmaker, Schock had a history of taking anti-LGBT positions. He voted no on a bill enforcing against hate crimes, and does not support marriage equality.

Not only is Schock opposed to same-sex marriage, he supported a federal marriage amendment, opposed repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’, opposed the repeal of DOMA and voted against adding sexual orientation to federal hate crimes statutes.

Many of the gay rumors surrounding Schock were originally tied to his obsessive attention to his body, as well as that of other Republican congressmen. Schock, who was once accused of misusing campaign funds to further an exercise habit, flaunted the results of that regimen in a Men’s Health cover story in May 2013 after which he became known as the congressman with the abs. In June 2010, a photo of Schock at a White House picnic in white jeans, an aqua belt, and purple gingham shirt posted by the website Gawker.com sent the gay rumors into overdrive. Schock later tweeted that he “burned the belt”after the photo went viral.

Schock’s trial is scheduled to begin in January 2018.

The post Feds Ask Witnesses in Aaron Schock Case if Former Congressman is Gay, Whether His Girlfriend Was Fake appeared first on Towleroad.

Feds Ask Witnesses in Aaron Schock Case if Former Congressman is Gay, Whether His Girlfriend Was Fake

The Tech Wizards Making Video Games for LGBT Players

The creators of the award-winning LGBT-focused video game Gone Home discuss the queer context of their newly released game, Tacoma.
 

www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/2017/8/01/tech-wizards-making-video-games-lgbt-players