Rentboy’s former CEO Jeffrey Hurant sentenced to prison
His prison term will begin later this month.
Daily Archives: August 2, 2017
Wrabel Rips Trump’s Attacks on Trans People with Empowering Video About Feeling Like an Outsider: WATCH
Wrabel Rips Trump’s Attacks on Trans People with Empowering Video About Feeling Like an Outsider: WATCH
Trans actor August Aiden stars in a powerful new video from singer-songwriter Wrabel for his track “The Village”, written in response to Donald Trump’s attacks on transgender people.
Wrabel penned an open letter about the video:
i wrote this song on february 23rd. the day after trump took away federal protections for trans students in public schools. today i release it, just days after he tweeted to ban trans people from serving in the military.
i just wanted to write a simple song letting anyone that feels like an outsider know that the problem isn’t you, it’s them. it’s the village. not in an aggressive us vs. them way, but just because you are the minority… just because people whisper “freak” when u walk down the hall… all of these things… it’s so hard out there… i know it is. these things aren’t pointing towards something wrong with YOU they’re pointing to a humongous problem with the majority… the “them”. there’s nothing wrong with you, there’s something wrong with the village.
two of my biggest supporters are trans teenagers. i’ve had the chance to meet their families. to get to know them. to hear about their struggles and dreams. hi. if you guys are reading this, i need to say thank you. thank you for being YOU. thank you for being honest and courageous and bold and vulnerable and transparent and true. you inspire me to be myself. you inspire me to be fearless in my self expression. my heart breaks for you. what this man is saying and doing. it has to stop. he is giving the village permission to hate. to look at those who are different as wrong and lesser than. i don’t know how else to raise my voice than in a song. and so, i wrote a song for you.
i came out as gay at around 23. i grew up in the church. i came out into a church in los angeles that called it “same sex attraction”. it was wrong. i was wrong. it was evil. i was evil. “unnatural” they called it. “unnatural” they called me. i can’t pretend like i know what it’s like to be trans. to feel those feelings and know those struggles. all i can do is try to speak up and try to relate.
there’s nothing wrong with you, there’s something wrong with the village.
Watch:
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Zeke Thomas opens up about sexual assault with new single, donates proceeds GLAAD
Zeke Thomas opens up about sexual assault with new single, donates proceeds GLAAD
Zeke Thomas, the openly gay son of NBA legend Isiah Thomas, makes his debut as a solo artist exclusively on Billboard.com with his new single “Dealin’ With It”. The track, produced by Zeke and featuring his vocals for the first time ever, uses the accessibility of music as a platform to open up an important dialogue on sexual assault.
Earlier this year, Zeke sat down with Good Morning America and New York Magazine to share his own experiences with sexual assault and to specifically bring awareness to the issue among men. “Dealin’ With It” explores how complicated and difficult it can be to come to terms with an experience of sexual assault, and the work towards recovery that follows. You can watch the video for Dealin’ With It exclusively on Billboard and hear more about Zeke Thomas’ story. **Some of the scenes and themes in the video may be upsetting and/or triggering, please gauge your own comfortablity with the content before viewing.**
Proceeds from the single will be given to GLAAD and National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC).
NSVRC, the leading nonprofit in providing information and tools to prevent and respond to sexual violence, stresses that:
“All too often, survivors are aware that those around them have expectations about how they will heal and cope, which can add unneeded pressure and anxiety during a time that is already confusing and stressful. LGBTQ+ survivors, like Zeke, rarely have the opportunity to speak out, and our culture rarely offers opportunities or lends an ear for these individuals to share their stories. It is crucial for us to honor survivors of all gender orientations and identities.”
By sharing his story, Zeke is giving us not only an opportunity to listen and reflect but also to reach others who are dealing with similar feelings and experiences. Rich Ferraro, GLAAD’s Chief Communications Officer says:
“Zeke is using his platform and music to powerfully shed light on an issue that too often flies under the radar. By telling his story and bravely living his truth, Zeke is quickly becoming a LGBTQ voice to watch.”
GLAAD sat down with Zeke to talk about both the value in sharing stories of sexual assault survival and LGBTQ representation in the music industry.
Tell us a bit about your new song and its significance.
Dealin’ With It is about overcoming trauma. My trauma is sexual assault but there are many types of trauma that exist in this world. Deal with it. Get better and heal. That’s my advice to us all.
Why do you think it’s important to share your story?
It’s not only for my own healing, but to encourage positive change. 1 in 6 males have been sexually assaulted. We must stand up and make noise on this issue and let people know they aren’t alone.
What message do you have for other survivors of sexual assault?
The message that I have for other survivors and allies is that you can and you will overcome it. It will take work. But I believe your stories and I believe in you. I understand you and you are loved. I want you to know there are many resources at your fingertips to tap into and there is no shame in asking for help. I asked for help and it saved me.
Why do you think LGBTQ representation is important in music?
LGBTQ representation is important in music because music is the best and most universal form of expression and release. The arts are an amazing way to express your deepest emotions you want to get out. Speaking about our issues and stories and living in our truth together openly is something that we must continue to do and share with the world always. It’s the only way to ensure we create that space for those who currently cannot.
What message do you have for LGBTQ youth?
The message I have for the LGBTQ youth is simply stated. No matter what obstacles your situation presents you with, you can overcome it. All races, social and economic backgrounds, and creeds deal with similar human condition issues and as a community we must come together. We are diverse, we are loving and we are worthy of love.
Have you had any supportive messages on Instagram that have spoken to you?
Social media has been an amazing outlet both for victims and survivors to reach out to me for encouragement or advice but also for myself to connect with other survivors. Speaking about sexual assault and rape is a difficult topic but dealing with the trauma afterwards is an on-going effort for me that is best served by talking about it. That’s my ultimate mission- keep people talking about it and stop allowing it to be ignored or shamed.
August 2, 2017
Issues:
www.glaad.org/blog/zeke-thomas-opens-about-sexual-assault-new-single-donates-proceeds-glaad
Responding to Trump’s Call to Ban Transgender Servicemembers
Responding to Trump’s Call to Ban Transgender Servicemembers
Laila Ireland, a proud transgender veteran and spouse of an active duty transgender serviceman, joins HRC’s Stephen Peters, a former Marine discharged under the discriminatory DADT policy to discuss Trump’s call for a transgender military ban. Trump’s actions would harm the readiness, morale, retention, and recruitment of our forces at home and abroad.
a happy day
a happy day
paul hitchmough new posted a photo:
one of the many band players that played at pride
thanks for looking paul
Witnesses in Aaron Schock’s case asked about his gay sex life and whether his ex-girlfriend was a beard
Witnesses in Aaron Schock’s case asked about his gay sex life and whether his ex-girlfriend was a beard
“The government has investigated nearly every facet of Mr. Schock’s professional, political, and personal life,” lawyers allege. “This even includes his sex life.”
‘Jack’d’ Gay Social App Heightens Security Because Hate Crimes Have Increased Since Trump’s Election
‘Jack’d’ Gay Social App Heightens Security Because Hate Crimes Have Increased Since Trump’s Election
The Jack’d gay social app announced on Tuesday that it is heightening security in the U.S. with a feature it had already enabled abroad due to the increasing number of domestic hate crimes against LGBTQ people.
Said Alon Rivel, Director of Global Marketing at Jack’d: “The blurring feature was originally created as a tool to protect gay men in countries such as Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt that have a history of violence against the gay community. Since the 2016 election, however, there has been a surge in bullying and hate crimes against the LGBTQ community in the US. As a result, a growing number of gay men here want to increase their privacy and keep their locations private, too.”
The company further explained the changes in a press release:
Before the launch of the blurring feature, Jack’d had disabled location sharing in countries where homosexuality was illegal. The blurring now allows these men to safely use GPS technology to find nearby men. It adds a rounding error to the member’s coordinates so that other men are given a general idea of their whereabouts without pinpointing their exact location. Even Jack’d’s servers do not know the exact actual location of members.
There is good reason to count the USA among the unsafe countries for gay men today. According to the LA Times, hate crimes against LGBTQ people in Los Angeles have increased 24.5% since the election. In a story from Bloomberg, published in February, the NYPD cites the election as a major factor in increased anti-LGBTQ incidents in New York City.
Similarly, the Washington Blade published a story in March on its city’s annual bias-related crime report. It revealed the number of anti-LGBTQ hate crimes in Washington DC had increased 59 percent in 2016. And in Boston, the number of reported hate crimes and bigoted actions against the LGBTQ community last year surpassed those aimed at Muslims, Jews, Latinos, and Asians combined. According to the Boston Globe, Boston Police Department figures indicate that the LGBTQ community is the top target for hate acts in its city and it is a trend that appears to be persisting.
Added Rivel: “The world will live in is still not LGBTQ tolerant and with 70% of our users being young millennials, we have to be proactive in protecting their privacy.”
The post ‘Jack’d’ Gay Social App Heightens Security Because Hate Crimes Have Increased Since Trump’s Election appeared first on Towleroad.
‘Jack’d’ Gay Social App Heightens Security Because Hate Crimes Have Increased Since Trump’s Election
Gay Dolphins Observed Off Coast of Western Australia
Gay Dolphins Observed Off Coast of Western Australia
Homosexual behavior in the animal kingdom is rife, and one of the best known examples is bottlenose dolphins, with both males and females having encounters with members of the same sex. The exact reasons are not well understood, but their homosexual relationships are thought to do with social bonding. Researchers in Australia are looking to get…
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GSN takes a tour on the Belmond British Pullman (Instagram Story)
GSN takes a tour on the Belmond British Pullman (Instagram Story)
Join us on the Belmond British Pullman, a luxury historical steam locomotive train, as it journeys through the Surrey Hills in the UK.
21 Words the Queer Community Has Reclaimed (and Some We Haven’t)
21 Words the Queer Community Has Reclaimed (and Some We Haven’t)