New web series explores the hilariously awkward reality of an open marriage
Check out the trailer here.

www.queerty.com/new-web-series-explores-hilariously-awkward-reality-open-marriage-20180221?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Wayne LaPierre, Sade, Gus Kenworthy, Eric Radford, Frank Ocean, PrEP, Calum Scott: HOT LINKS

CPAC. NRA executive Wayne LaPierre’s speaking time kept a secret for fear of protests: “Organizers for the Conservative Political Action Conference withheld the name of a top National Rifle Association executive from the schedule of speakers they released on Monday, just days after a young shooter killed 17 children and adults in a Parkland, Fla., high school. But sources familiar with the situation said Wayne LaPierre, the NRA’s executive vice president and CEO, will still deliver his speech at CPAC this week as planned.”

LONDON FASHION WEEK. The Queen of England just attended her first fashion show.

KOREA. Government approves sale of PrEP but it’s very expensive: “The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has approved the sale of Truvada, a type of HIV prevention drug PrEP, in South Korea, but the medicine’s high price is raising concerns over its affordability. According to sources close to the pharmaceutical industry on Monday, Gilead Sciences Korea’s HIV prevention medication Truvada has become the first drug to be acknowledged for its pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) effect by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS).”

SERENA WILLIAMS. Tennis icon says she almost died giving birth.

LAWSUITS. Frank Ocean has sued producer Om’Mas Keith: “Frank says he hired and paid Om’Mas a flat fee to work on the master recordings … and that’s it. Frank’s adamant — Om’Mas didn’t write the lyrics, melody or music. He’s suing to get a judge to block Om’Mas from getting songwriting credits.”

FLOWER OF THE UNIVERSE. Sade is releasing her first song in 8 years for A Wrinkle in Time. Director Ava DuVernay: “I never thought she’d say yes, but asked anyway. She was kind + giving. A goddess. We began a journey together that I’ll never forget. Proud to announce that Sade has created an original song for WRINKLE IN TIME. It’s entitled “Flower of the Universe.” And it’s a dream come true.”

I never thought she’d say yes, but asked anyway. She was kind + giving. A goddess. We began a journey together that I’ll never forget. Proud to announce that Sade has created an original song for WRINKLE IN TIME. It’s entitled “Flower of the Universe.” And it’s a dream come true. pic.twitter.com/FdXrZ1MFMO

— Ava DuVernay (@ava) February 20, 2018

ATLANTIS CRUISES. DOJ reaches settlement with Atlantis Events: “The U.S. Justice Department today reached a settlement with Atlantis Events Inc., a gay cruise and resort vacation company with offices in West Hollywood, to ensure that customers who are deaf or hard of hearing are provided effective communication when traveling with the company.”

GAY OLYMPIANS. Gus Kenworthy and Canadian figure skater Eric Radford have finally met.

Finally got to meet the man! Was fun talking with @guskenworthy and visiting the Pride house here in #Pyeongchang. #Olympics #pyeongchang2018 #pridehouse #Canadahouse #outandproud ##athlete #athletes #figureskating #ski #lgbt pic.twitter.com/PE3jkSMvha

— Eric Radford (@Rad85E) February 21, 2018

CALUM SCOTT. “Dancing On My Own” singer goes shirtless for cover story. “My gay role models were people like Elton John, George Michael and Boy George, which I couldn’t relate to, so it made me feel even more alien. Whereas now there are so many people who are open and proud of who they are, that are more relatable.”

MEANWHILE IN BRITAIN. KFC stores are shut because of a chicken shortage and people are losing their sh*t.

ELIZABETH SWANEY. The Olympics halfpipe WTF.

How freeskier Elizabeth Swaney made it to the #WinterOlympics with this very simple halfpipe run: t.co/enfDyoQjGC pic.twitter.com/kHTAV7XND4

— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 20, 2018

DRAG RACE THAILAND CLIPS OF THE DAY. Serving.

Drag Race Thailand is SERVING pic.twitter.com/zt1iepVE7w

— The Gay Burn Book (@SouthernHomo) February 16, 2018

Amadiva คือ 1 คนที่ทำผลงานบนรันเวย์ #DragRaceTH ได้อย่างดี เป็นที่น่าจดจำค่ะ ดูรุ้ง 7 สีที่เปิดออกมาสิคะ จับตาดูนางไว้ให้ดีค่ะ

ลิงก์นี้สำหรับคนที่พลาดดู Drag Race Thailand >>t.co/CXMHrFprsl pic.twitter.com/jfUZXkxCNp

— Drag Race Thailand (@DragRaceTH) February 18, 2018

TRAILER OF THE DAY. the Netflix Lost in Space remake. “The Robinson family, part of a highly trained mission to establish a new colony in space, is unexpectedly pulled off course forcing them to crash land on a lost planet.

HUMP DAY HOTTIE. Miguel.

The post Wayne LaPierre, Sade, Gus Kenworthy, Eric Radford, Frank Ocean, PrEP, Calum Scott: HOT LINKS appeared first on Towleroad.

Wayne LaPierre, Sade, Gus Kenworthy, Eric Radford, Frank Ocean, PrEP, Calum Scott: HOT LINKS

Does Antoni from “Queer Eye” have a boyfriend twin? An investigation.
Seeing double?

www.queerty.com/antoni-queer-eye-boyfriend-twin-investigation-20180221?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Georgia Senate Panel Approves Bill Allowing Adoption Agencies to Deny Gay Couples

William Ligon (Screenshot Via YouTube)

The Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee has passed a bill that would allow faith-based adoption agencies to refuse to place children with same-sex couples.

Senate Bill 375 (“Keep Faith in Adoption and Foster Care Act”) would also prohibit the Georgia Department of Human Services from taking “adverse action” against such agencies.

RELATED: Georgia GOP Lawmakers Add Anti-LGBT Provision to Adoption Bill in Sneak Attack

The bill was introduced earlier this month by state Republican Senator William Ligon. A Senate Judiciary subcommittee met on February 8th to take up the bill, moving to send it on to the full committee.

Because to be clear: SB 375 “Keep the Faith in Foster and Adoption” bill was proposed by William Ligon, Republican from BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA. AIN’T SHIT IN BRUNSWICK EXCEPT CAUSEWAYS TO THE GOLDEN ISLES. BUT YOU WANNA INTRODUCE SHIT THAT IMPACTS THE WHOLE STATE.

— D. Danyelle Thomas (@UnfitChristian) February 19, 2018

No public comments allowed, the bill passed along party lines and it will now head to the Senate floor for a vote.

Georgia Voice reports:

During Tuesday morning’s hearing, Ligon argued that passage of the bill would allow for more opportunities for adoption instead of less. State Sen. Elena Parent (D-Atlanta) questioned that claim, and pointed out that religious adoption agencies in Georgia already have the ability to refuse to place children with same-sex couples.

“It seems like [the bill is] dealing with problems that do not exist, although it might make people feel better,” Parent said.

“It’s not a matter of feeling,” Ligon responded.

Parent added:

“There are LGBT kids who are in the system, and they’re more likely to be in the system than kids who don’t identify as lesbian or gay, so I think there’s a real question about whether they could be harmed. The legislation puts the religious beliefs of those who serve kids above the kids themselves, and that’s why I have a particular problem with this.”

Parent and fellow Democrat Harold V. Jones were the only “no” votes against the bill.

In an email sent the day before the vote, Georgia Unites Against Discrimination (GUAD) wrote:

“We can’t let lawmakers forget what’s at stake. First and foremost, the well-being of the nearly 14,000 children in our adoption and foster care system. Child welfare advocates have been clear that allowing adoption agencies to discriminate won’t help place more children with loving families — in fact, it would let LGBT youth languish even longer in the system. And SB 375 could deal a serious blow to our chances of landing Amazon’s new headquarters. That’s why this morning, the Atlanta Metro Chamber and the Georgia Chamber spoke out strongly in the AJC against this bill. Rush a message to your senator now letting them know Georgia simply cannot afford this license to discriminate, SB 375.”

In a statement, Cindy Armine-Klein, Chief Control Officer with Atlanta-based global payment technology solutions firm First Data, said:

“First Data is based in Atlanta and we are proud to call Georgia home. However, we are strongly opposed to SB 375, the proposed legislation in Georgia that we believe perpetuates discrimination against the LGBT community. First Data is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that promotes fairness and diversity, and the proposed legislation violates our core belief that all Americans deserve to be treated equally and respectfully.”

Georgia Equality’s executive director Jeff Graham added “there are only losers with this bill: children denied permanent and loving homes, and potential parents coldly turned away simply because of who they are.”

The post Georgia Senate Panel Approves Bill Allowing Adoption Agencies to Deny Gay Couples appeared first on Towleroad.

Georgia Senate Panel Approves Bill Allowing Adoption Agencies to Deny Gay Couples

The Trump Administration is sending another anti-LGBTQ white house official to the Olympics

www.glaad.org/blog/trump-administration-sending-another-anti-lgbtq-white-house-official-olympics

Anti-LGBT Group ‘Focus on the Family’ Files as Church to Avoid Taxes

James Dobson by Focus on the Family (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Anti-LGBT activist group Focus on the Family (FotF) has declared itself a church in order to avoid paying taxes.

In its application, FotF, which has previously argued that the legalization of same-sex marriage could lead to civil war, indicates that it is a “church, convention of churches or association of churches.”

Right Wing Watch reports:

Focus on the Family filed as a non-church 501(c)(3) nonprofit as recently as the 2014 fiscal year, submitting to the IRS a publicly available Form 990 as most tax-exempt nonprofits are required to do. But when the group posted a Form 990 for the 2015 fiscal year on its website—dated October 26, 2017, and reporting a massive budget of $89 million—it was emblazoned with the message “Not required to file and not filed with the IRS. Not for public inspection.”

On the part of the form on which it is required to identify the reason for its public charity status, the group indicates that it is a “church, convention of churches or association of churches.” In an “explanation of church status,” the organization states that while it hasn’t filed with the IRS because the IRS has told it that it’s “not required” to do so, it would “post a pro-forma 990 on our website and make copies available to donors.”

The IRS master database of tax-exempt organizations also indicates that FotF is listed as a church that is not required to file a 990.

Right Wing Watch continues:

Focus on the Family declaring itself to be a church is puzzling. While the Colorado Springs-based organization has somewhat softened its image since it was led by the firebrand [James] Dobson [above], it remains active in political debates and advocacy (even in a nominally nonpartisan way). A “social issues” section on the group’s website currently features information on a supposed threat to bathroom safety posed by transgender people thanks to LGBTQ activists fighting in politics, churches and popular culture, and contains an update on “cultural issues in the courts.” In June, Focus invited Vice President Mike Pence to speak at an event celebrating its 40th anniversary, where he promised the group it had an “unwavering ally” in President Trump.

Attorney Gail Harmon, who has advised nonprofits on tax law for more than 30 years, said that she had never before seen a nonprofit organization declare itself a church.

“I just found it shocking,” she said. “There’s nothing about them that meets the traditional definition of what a church is. They don’t have a congregation, they don’t have the rites of various parts of a person’s life. There’s a whole system for what a church is.”

The post Anti-LGBT Group ‘Focus on the Family’ Files as Church to Avoid Taxes appeared first on Towleroad.

Anti-LGBT Group ‘Focus on the Family’ Files as Church to Avoid Taxes

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: February 21, 2018

COUNTRY’S TOP-RANKING MILITARY GENERAL WAS “NOT CONSULTED” ON TRUMP’S BAN ON TRANSGENDER SERVICE MEMBERS: Gen. Joseph Dunford, the country’s highest ranking military general, said that Trump’s tweets about a transgender military ban “was unexpected” and that he was “not consulted.” More from BuzzFeed.

CONGRESSWOMAN MAXINE WATERS (D-CA) TO SPEAK AND PORTUGAL. THE MAN TO PERFORM AT 2018 HRC L.A. DINNER: The event will bring together more than 1,000 of HRC’s most active members and supporters in the greater Los Angeles area to raise crucial funds in the fight for LGBTQ equality on March 10. “Maxine Waters is a steadfast defender of equality who is fighting to reclaim the United States from the Trump-Pence agenda of hate, fear, and discrimination,” said HRC President Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin). “For years, Congresswoman Waters has been standing up for the marginalized and oppressed in our society. We are truly honored to welcome her to the 2018 HRC Los Angeles Dinner.” More from HRC.

ANNOUNCING: Equality champion @MaxineWaters will speak and @HRC supporter and Grammy Award-winning band @portugaltheman will perform at the 2018 #HRCLADinner on March 10. t.co/R44fwC33XB

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 21, 2018

MORNING MUST READ FROM POLITICO, “TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DISMANTLES LGBT-FRIENDLY POLICIES”: Despite empty meetings with LGBTQ advocates, the Trump-Pence Administration has attacked civil rights and LGBTQ equality at every turn. “There’s a difference between hearing and listening,” said HRC Associate Legal Director Robin Maril. “For a listening session to actually be successful, we would’ve had to see actual, meaningful engagement. And we’ve seen nothing but disappointing and harmful policies come out of HHS and [the civil rights office] since the meeting.” More from Politico.

Trump-Pence administration has systematically eroded years of progress in their quest to undermine the rights of LGBTQ Americans. This November we must pull the emergency brake on their hateful agenda. t.co/ZCzmWvKNFi

— Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) February 20, 2018

PROGRESSIVE GROUPS LAUNCH CAMPAIGN AGAINST ANTI-LGBTQ, ANTI-PLANNED PARENTHOOD CONGRESSMAN DAN LIPINSKI: “Dan Lipinski has an abysmal record on LGBTQ equality and the shameful distinction of being the worst-scoring Democrat on the Human Rights Campaign’s Congressional Scorecard,” said HRC Communications Director Chris Sgro (@cristoferosgro). “The people of Illinois’ third district deserve a champion of equality fighting for each and every one of them in Congress. The Trump-Pence administration is attacking and undermining American values every day, and we need a leader who will stand up to their dangerous and hateful agenda — not enable them.” More from Windy City Times.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING WEDNESDAY — NEW ‘GENDERCOOL’ PROJECT SHOWCASES STORIES AND STRUGGLES OF TRANSGENDER YOUTH: More from Today and The New York Times.

HRC ANNOUNCES KEY LEADERSHIP FOR ARIZONA AHEAD OF 2018 ELECTIONS: Justin Unga will lead HRC’s Arizona efforts as Arizona State Manager and Stan Williams will serve as HRC’s Arizona Deputy State Manager. Said JoDee Winterhof, HRC Senior Vice President of Policy and Political Affairs: “Justin and Stan are proud Arizonans who will work to mobilize, activate and harness the energy of our grassroots army of more than 800,000 Equality Voters across the state who will make the difference come November.” More from HRC.

AMAZON MUST CONSIDER CITY AND STATE NONDISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS WHEN SELECTING THE HQ2 SITE: “Employees shouldn’t have to worry about day-to-day lives, dry cleaning or apartment hunting,” said Sarah Warbelow, HRC legal director. “We’re certainly hopeful that wherever they locate, they and their employees will continue to advocate for the LGBTQ community.” More from CNBC.

LAMBDA LEGAL FILES SUIT AGAINST HHS FOR BLOCKING SAME-SEX COUPLE FROM FOSTERING CHILD: Fatma Marouf and Bryn Esplin were told by a federal contractor conducting child placement services funded with taxpayer dollars that because they did not “mirror the Holy Family,” they were not suitable foster parents for refugee children in need of homes. The agency also claimed that none of the approximately 700 children needing placements were LGBTQ. More from Lambda Legal.

CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES! State legislation to keep on your radar:

• The Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee passed an anti-LGBTQ bill that could give adoption agencies a license to discriminate against LGBTQ perspective parents. More from The Georgia Voice.
• And in Oklahoma, a similar discriminatory bill has passed through committee. Read the bill text here.
• And for more on the harms of efforts to write anti-LGBTQ discrimination by child welfare agencies into law, check out this report from HRC.

LGBTQ-INCLUSIVE NONDISCRIM PROTECTIONS AND 2018 ELECTIONS: Jimmy LaSalvia encourages fair-minded Americans to confront Trump-Pence’s politics of hate, writing, “Enacting LGBTQ-inclusive nondiscrimination laws is an important piece of bringing about that national unity and civility, and the 2018 midterm elections present a critical opportunity to advance that goal at all levels of government.” More from Advocate.

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

HORRIFYING — INDONESIAN CITY CREATES “TASKFORCE” TO ATTACK LGBTQ COMMUNITY: More from The Telegraph.

READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!

Reuters talks to experts about the dangerous and debunked practice of so-called “conversion therapy”; Pink News reports that Jacinda Arden became the first ���� New Zealand Prime Minister to march in an LGBTQ Pride parade; Merriam-Webster gives a history of the pronoun ‘they’; HRC shares what it means to live and work at the intersections of Black and LGBTQ identities

www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-tipsheet-february-21-2018?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed