Gay man viciously beaten by his sister & brother-in-law
“The words I heard hurt a lot more than the bruises I won.”
Monthly Archives: April 2018
Richard Painter, Sun Trapp, Anthony Kennedy, Rodrigo Koxa, Tom Goss, Carl Icahn, Danny Jones: HOT LINKS
Richard Painter, Sun Trapp, Anthony Kennedy, Rodrigo Koxa, Tom Goss, Carl Icahn, Danny Jones: HOT LINKS
RICHARD PAINTER. Former GOP White House lawyer running for Al Franken’s seat in Minnesota, as a Democrat: “Painter served as chief White House ethics lawyer to President George W. Bush. He’s emerged as a top Republican critic of Trump and is a frequent guest on MSNBC and CNN. His entry as a Democrat triggers an endorsement fight and potentially a primary for Democratic Sen. Tina Smith, who was appointed to take Franken’s seat after he resigned.”
OH MILLENNIALS. University of Utah installs “cry closet” in school library.
JUSTICE DEPT. Sections on press freedom and racial gerrymandering get deleted from internal manual: “The changes include new sections that underscore Sessions’ focus on religious liberty and the Trump administration’s efforts to crack down on government leaks — there is new language admonishing prosecutors not to share classified information and directing them to report contacts with the media.”
CARL ICAHN. EPA grants waiver to an oil refinery owned by billionaire Carl Icahn: “The waiver enables Icahn’s CVR Energy Inc to avoid tens of millions of dollars in costs related to the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. The regulation is meant to cut air pollution, reduce petroleum imports and support corn farmers by requiring refiners to mix billions of gallons of biofuels into the nation’s gasoline and diesel each year.”
SUN TRAPP. Utah gay bar mourns owner, isn’t going anywhere: “Goulding, 62, died April 9 from pancreatic cancer. Many of his friends and family turned out at the Sun Trapp, the Salt Lake City gay bar he owned, to pay tribute with stories and remembrances.”
ON THE CALENDAR. Trump to attend NRA convention.
YOU REMEMBERED! Seth Meyers responds to Donald Trump diss.
NYT. Justice Kennedy, please stay: ‘Do you want to give your seat to a president whose campaign and administration are under criminal investigation, whose closest aides have been indicted or have pleaded guilty to federal crimes? A president with so little regard for or understanding of the role of the judiciary, the separation of powers and the rule of law? A president who nominated to the federal bench someone who called you a “judicial prostitute”?’
REMEMBER THAT RIDER. Horses can remember if you smiled or frowned the last time they saw you: “Horses prefer to look at negative and threatening sights with their left eye, and positive social stimuli with their right eye. In the study, when they saw a model they had seen frowning earlier, they spent more time looking with their left eye. They also exhibited more stress-related behaviours, like scratching and floor sniffing. In contrast, when they saw a model they had seen smiling earlier, they spent more time looking with their right eye.”
DANNY JONES. “Tree Man” exposes his thick branch (wk-unfriendly).
SURFING RECORD OF THE DAY. Brazilian surfer Rodrigo Koxa was just awarded a Guinness World Record for riding this 80-foot wave.
KICKSTARTER OF THE DAY. Gay singer-songwriter Tom Goss is looking for funding for his new album.
MONDAY MUSCLE. Denevin Miranda.
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Outrage Continues Over Anti-LGBTQ Adoption Bill in Kansas
Outrage Continues Over Anti-LGBTQ Adoption Bill in Kansas
Fair-minded people across Kansas have come together to oppose HB2481, an anti-LGBTQ license to discriminate currently before the state’s legislature. HB 2481 would allow child welfare organizations — including adoption and foster care agencies — to use taxpayer dollars to turn away qualified Kansans 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.
Take action against this dangerous legislation and text “ALL FAMILIES” to 30644.
Major national corporate leaders including Apple, Google and GM have come out against this harmful legislation. TechNet — the national, bipartisan network of over 80 technology companies — is urging Kansas lawmakers to oppose HB 2481, warning that the discriminatory legislation could have dire consequences on the state’s economic development and business competitiveness.
Some of the nation’s leading tech companies are calling on Kansas lawmakers to oppose #HB2481, a dangerous taxpayer funded #LicenseToDiscriminate against qualified #LGBTQ couples seeking to care for a child in need. #KSLeg t.co/iGOdsZQRH6
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 29, 2018
Leading child welfare organizations joined HRC in a letter to Kansas lawmakers detailing their reasons for opposing the discriminatory legislation. “This bill is patently discriminatory and opposed by organizations working in the child welfare space,” said Ellen Kahn, director of the HRC Foundation’s Children, Youth & Families Program. “HRC and the signatories on this letter urge the Kansas House of Representatives to listen to the voices of the people working on these issues, not those who would seek to discriminate against potential parents based on who they are.”
Today, @HRC President @ChadHGriffin joined @KansasEquality, @ACLUKansas, child welfare advocates and business leaders at a press conference calling on the Kansas House of Representatives to reject #HB2481. pic.twitter.com/X75bHqZXAK
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 26, 2018
HRC has been on the ground working with advocates to mobilize against this measure. Last week, HRC President Chad Griffin joined Equality Kansas, ACLU of Kansas, child welfare advocates and business leaders at a press conference calling on the Kansas House of Representatives to reject HB 2481.
Research consistently shows that LGBTQ youth are overrepresented in the foster care system, as many have been rejected by their families of origin because of their LGBTQ status, and are especially vulnerable to discrimination and mistreatment while in foster care.
HB 2481 will only exacerbate the challenges faced by LGBTQ young people and families. HRC will continue to work in Kansas until this discriminatory measure is defeated once and for all.
Take action against this dangerous legislation and text “ALL FAMILIES” to 30644.
Gay adult film star rushed to emergency room following complications from brain surgery
Gay adult film star rushed to emergency room following complications from brain surgery
His family is seeking help in this extraordinarily hard time.
Janelle Monae to CBS Sunday Morning: ‘I am Very Proud to Be a Queer Young Black Woman in America’ – WATCH
Janelle Monae to CBS Sunday Morning: ‘I am Very Proud to Be a Queer Young Black Woman in America’ – WATCH
CBS Sunday Morning profiled Janelle Monae (above), who came out as queer last week alongside the release of her new album and “emotion picture,” Dirty Computer.
Said Monae: “This album deals with what it means to reckon with how you”re viewed in society. Dirty computers are taught that who they love, or, their race, or, where they come from, their class – all those things are bugs or viruses, and you should be cleansed of those. I am absolutely a dirty computer.”
She added: “I think that it is important for people to be proud of their identity. I am very proud to be a queer young black woman in America. I’m proud of who I am. I love myself and I want for all the dirty computers around the world to feel seen and to be heard, and to feel celebrated, and to know that I’m right there with you.”
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Princess Nokia @ Metro
The #IStandWithPP Badge Is Back
The #IStandWithPP Badge Is Back
Our #IStandWithPP badge is back by popular demand
Starting today, you may see the #IStandWithPP badge on user profiles. The badge only shows up on profiles where the user publicly answered “no” to “Should the government defund Planned Parenthood?” And it only appears in DoubleTake on the app. So if you want to answer the question, or change your response, click here. And don’t worry—if you’ve answered “no” publicly, you might not see the badge on your own profile, but other users will see it on yours.
The badge will be available now through April 30.
If you want to learn more about how this all got started, click here.
The #IStandWithPP Badge Is Back was originally published in The OkCupid Blog on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
The World’s #1 Movie: ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ – REVIEW
The World’s #1 Movie: ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ – REVIEW
Captain America demonstrating the sweaty difficulty of talking about Infinity War without talking about Infinity War…
NOTE: THE FOLLOWING THOUGHTS ARE FREE OF SPOILERS (THE MOVIE HAVING JUST OPENED) EXCEPT FOR THE MOVIE’S OPENING BATTLE AND A VAGUE SPOILER ABOUT THE GENERAL NATURE / IMPERMANENCE OF SUPERHERO DEATHS WITHIN THIS GENRE.
If gloves make a big fashion comeback, blame Thanos. The alien destroyer has been haunting the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (aka The Avengers) from the sidelines (aka the post credits sequences) for a full decade of moviegoing. He’s ben on hunt for the six “Infinity Stones,” (aka the Tesseract, The Aether, etc…) to decorate and power his universe-controlling glove (aka the “Infinity Gauntlet”). Sorry for all those ‘also known as’ asides but there are so many names to keep track of!
Consider, though it’s much less difficult if you don’t, that most of the six Infinity Stones have gone by at least two different names within the last decade’s worth of Marvel movies. We’ll cite just one example since it’s crucial to the story…
The most familiar gem from the previous movies is “The Mind Stone”. When last we checked in with our heroes it was sitting all lovely and golden on the broadly handsome expanse of The Vision’s Paul-Bettany shaped forehead… but it didn’t start there! If I’m connecting the CGI dots properly it began life as the blue Tesseract cube from Captain America: The First Avenger but spent most of its headlining movie stardom in the Thor movies whilst embedded in Loki’s scepter. Previously the Mind Stone was used to possess people but with The Vision (aka the artificial intelligence formerly known as “Jarvis”) it made him sentient and he mostly uses the stone to shoot laser beams. As one does.
Anywayyyy…
The Infinity Stones are so powerful that they can alter reality, grant super powers, reverse time, and break all opening weekend box office records when sharing the screen.
That’s a lot of backstory but what are superhero myths without backstory? The worst thing that can be said about the superhero genre as a whole is how often it defaults to origin story retreads — how many times exactly do we need to see Bruce Wayne’s parents die or Spider-Man get that radioactive bite? Perhaps the best that can be said about Avengers: Infinity War is that it never once slows down to let you catch up. It trusts that you know all these characters already or are willing to just hop on the rollercoaster with them toward yet another apocalypse.
Still, the first casualty of the rush of the pace is coherence. I’ve seen all 18 of the Marvel Studios movies, some of them thrice (aka the ones starring my husband Captain America) and I still got confused during Infinity War, and as early as the first scene! We begin with a very unsettling whammy for Thor, the god of Thunder. We’ve apparently jumped forward or sideways from the amusing ending of Thor Ragnarok because the Guardians of the Galaxy are not with Thor and he’s already all chained up from some attack we weren’t privy to. Thanos promptly kills not one but two of Thor’s favorite people before his eyes (Tom Hiddleston’s Loki and Idris Elba’s Heimdall). The deaths are sick-making because the violence is less visual effects mayhem than painful close-ups on expressive faces. It looks and feels and sounds (ick!) real.
Thanos loves that you’re squirming.
Thanos is extra. Not only does his glove have six stone settings despite gloves generally being more number-five focused, but he towers over and easily defeats the two strongest and biggest Avengers in this same opening scene. The defeat makes Thor angry and vengeful (important plot point!) but The Hulk… well, this messes with the Hulk in ways which would be spoilery to recount. Just about the only thing that isn’t extra about Thanos is his skin color. He started the movies with a deep purple hue but somewhere along the line the movies chickened out — and he got desaturated to a greyish lavender.
The color is the only thing less than extra about this supervillain. Josh Brolin is chillingly calm-of-voice while detailing the alien’s mass-murdering agenda. Supervillains are usually trying to destroy the planet but with Thanos the entire universe is at stake. Gamora, the green Guardian of the Galaxy (the one who looks like Zoe Saldana if you’re having trouble keeping track — there are literally over 70 named characters!) warns anyone that will listen that Thanos will destroy half of all life in the universe “with the snap of his fingers” if he gets his hands on all six stones. He already has three of the Infinity Stones by the end of the first scene (if I recall correctly) and has a clear bead on where the other three are. And off we go!
Scarlet Witch and The Vision – a sorceress and an android in love.
The director brothers Anthony and Joe Russo, who first showed their formidable action chops in Captain America: Winter Soldier have the difficult task of topping 18 other movies in terms of the intensity, speed, and stakes of the action. They succeed intermittently though the action lacks both the thrilling character focus of Winter Soldier‘s intense melees and the emotional heft of Civil War‘s friendly-fire sadness. Infinity War never takes a deep breath — there’s no stopping at, say, Hawkeye’s family home as in Age of Ultron to recuperate — which isn’t necessarily healthy for the movie. More time with The Scarlet Witch and The Vision, whose curious romance factors heavily into the film’s story, would surely have granted the movie more rewatchable passion.
But perhaps any success given the supersized expectations and level-of-difficulty of this franchise devouring other franchises is something to cheer on. And the action, at least, is exciting and varied. My favorite sequence was a Thanos versus Iron Man, Spider-Man, and Doctor Strange throwdown but there’s a different configuration for virtually any taste since the movie is less a movie with big action set pieces than one long continuously evolving action set piece with tiny emotional interstitials.
Still, the action works.
Those two opening deaths imbue Infinity War with a feeling of genuine danger and ‘anything might happen!’ abandon that’s usually entirely absent in franchises. Thanos is extra but then so is Avengers Infinity War. If you’ve kept up at all it shouldn’t be a spoiler to tell you that the thrust of the plot centers around Doctor Strange and The Vision, both of whom openly display one of Thanos’s must have gems on their costumes. If you love action spectacle the movie is a must see, each scene packed with detailed incident (it’s not just mindless punching!), visual verve and even character-serving beats.
Most of the heroes get at least one big quip and one big gif-able action moment despite there being three dozen of them! About five of the characters even get something approaching an emotional arc though let’s not start overstating the movie’s raison d’etre: it’s a spectacle not an acting showcase. That said it’s an awfully good thing that the movie has ten years worth of emotional investment to draw from, courtesy of its generally stellar casting choices and the anchoring power of Chris Evans as Captain America (at this point the amount of swoon he causes is its own super power) and Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man.
Despite all of this and the two and a half hour running time Infinity War is only half a movie!
This trailer moment is not in the movie. But the movie is faking us out in other ways, too.
During production it was originally called Infinity War Part 1 but the Part 1 got dropped along the way — probably when Marvel Studios realized that audiences were getting sick of the popular Aughts trend of splitting last films of a franchise in two because ‘why earn one billion when you can earn two?!?’ But being only half of a movie is a problem. We’re meant to be shocked and dismayed at the movie’s crazy over-the-top climax with its alarming death toll but I personally ended up feeling cheated. The deaths become so outrageous in number that it was impossible to take them seriously — no movie studio would ever commit suicide by killing off roughly $20 billion dollars worth of their intellectual property — and the drama fizzled away like ash. Part Two (as yet untitled) will obviously be forced to reverse the destruction which makes Part One feel empty to the core or, at best, like a sick fake out.
Cliffhangers are for serials and TV series, which both use chapter structure more naturally than feature films. Ending a movie at the halfway point is as annoying as cutting off a review in mi
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#AM_Equality Tipsheet: April 30, 2018
#AM_Equality Tipsheet: April 30, 2018
MAJOR NATIONAL CORPORATE LEADERS INCLUDING APPLE, GOOGLE AND GM OPPOSE KANSAS’ ANTI-LGBTQ LEGISLATION: TechNet — the national, bipartisan network of over 80 technology companies — is urging Kansas lawmakers to oppose HB 2481, warning that the discriminatory legislation could have dire consequences on the state’s economic development and business competitiveness. HB 2481, which is pending in the Kansas legislature, would create a license to discriminate for taxpayer-funded child placement agencies to refuse to place children with LGBTQ foster or adoptive parents, single parents, and other qualified families. More from The Wichita Eagle.
Some of the nation’s leading tech companies are calling on Kansas lawmakers to oppose #HB2481, a dangerous taxpayer funded #LicenseToDiscriminate against qualified #LGBTQ couples seeking to care for a child in need. #KSLeg t.co/iGOdsZQRH6
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 29, 2018
IN TODAY’S NEW YORK TIMES — “A GROWING PROBLEM FOR THE MILITARY TRANSGENDER BAN — FACTS”: The hard-hitting editorial lays bare the lies behind the discriminatory Trump-Pence ban on qualified transgender troops in the military, asserting that it simply “panders to right-wing zealots like Vice President Mike Pence and to regressive generals” behind the effort to overturn President Obama’s 2016 decision to protect gender identity in the Pentagon’s equal opportunity policy. The Times notes that federal courts, the heads of the four branches of the military and former surgeons general have asserted there are no facts — military, medical or otherwise — to justify the ban. “In the meantime,” the Times board writes, “a growing body of research and expert opinion supports the only fair and just solution: Repudiating Mr. Trump’s cruel decision and giving transgender people the same right to serve their country in a military uniform as any other citizens.” More from The New York Times.
- Six former surgeons general say “no medially valid reason” for ban: “We underscore that transgender troops are as medically fit as their non-transgender peers and that there is no medically valid reason — including a diagnosis of gender dysphoria — to exclude them from military service or to limit their access to medically necessary care,” they write. More from the Palm Center.
Throughout history, the military has been a crucial vehicle for driving inclusion in society of African-Americans, women, gays and now transgender people. t.co/Oopw1MuP0P
— NYT Opinion (@nytopinion) April 30, 2018
MUST WATCH MONDAY — HRC RELEASES HARD-HITTING VIDEO HIGHLIGHTING MIKE PENCE’S DANGEROUS RECORD ON HIV AND AIDS: “Mike Pence has spent his career putting people in danger by denying them access to HIV prevention and treatment,” said Ashland Johnson, HRC’s Director of Public Education and Research (@ashlandj11). “Pence has been reckless with the health and lives of those he is sworn to serve, choosing to promote a dangerous ideology over making the right decisions for the American people.” The video is the latest in HRC’s groundbreaking “Real Mike Pence” campaign exposing the vice president’s long history of anti-LGBTQ animus. More from HRC and Plus Magazine.
HRC ENDORSES GINA ORTIZ JONES FOR TEXAS CONGRESSIONAL SEAT: “Gina Ortiz Jones would be a consistent voice for equality in Congress and a trailblazing figure in Texas politics,” said Marty Rouse, HRC national field director. More from HRC.
IN USA TODAY, HRC’S ALLISON TURNER SHARES WHAT JANELLE MONÁE’S COMING OUT MEANS TO HER: Turner (@amturner1993) writes, “My hope is that this powerful moment of visibility starts an important conversation about these identities, and that we can take a cue from Monáe and say to pansexual, queer and bisexual people — and especially young people — “We see you.’” More from USA Today.
- Merriam-Webster dictionary’s top search on its website was ‘pansexual’ for the two days following Monáe’s coming out. Reading is FUNDAMENTAL! More from Gay Star News.
1/ Not only is @JanelleMonae proudly living her truth, she is bringing visibility to others whose sexual orientations are often erased or ignored. t.co/C2vGwA0a6X
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 27, 2018
ON THIS DATE IN 1997, ELLEN DEGENERES CAME OUT PUBLICLY: For 21 years, Ellen DeGeneres has inspired our community, encouraging people to embrace their authentic selves. Our visibility has been possible in large part because of her courage.
ACTRESS SAMIRA WILEY’S MESSAGE TO LGBTQ YOUTH — “WE NEED YOU”: “There are just so many people, kids, LGBT kids that genuinely think that their existence is wrong. Nothing pulls on my heartstrings more,” Wiley told The New York Times.
MASSACHUSETTS UNVEILS LGBTQ-INCLUSIVE SCHOOL CURRICULUM: It will allow LGBTQ students to see themselves reflected in their history, English and health lessons. More from Boston Herald.
TEXAS SCHOOL BOARD RENEWS CONTRACT OF TEACHER PLACED ON LEAVE FOR ADVOCATING FOR LGBTQ-FRIENDLY POLICIES: Mansfield, Texas, teacher Stacy Bailey was placed on paid administrative leave after parents complained because she is LGBTQ. More from Star-Telegram.
MIAMI BEACH HONORS GOOD SAMARITAN WHO STEPPED IN TO HELP SAME-SEX COUPLE BEING ATTACKED AT PRIDE PARADE: More from Towleroad.
The City of Miami Beach honored Helmut Muller Estrada, a good samaritan who stepped in when four men attacked a same-sex couple at a Pride parade. ��️��t.co/7y3YZdvMMO
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 29, 2018
ELLEN PAGE TO JOIN CAST OF NETFLIX’S “ARMISTEAD MAUPIN’S TALES OF THE CITY”: More from On Top Magazine.
SPELMAN STUDENT WITH TRANS PARTNER RECEIVES TRANSPHOBIC MESSAGES: Spelman has taken significant steps to make its campus trans-inclusive, including participating in HRC’s HBCU Leadership Summit. More from The Root.
GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS
KENYA BANS LGBTQ LOVE STORY SET TO PREMIERE AT CANNES: More from Variety.
READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!
Salon interviews HRC National Press Secretary Sarah McBride (@SarahEMcBride); The Daily Beast’s Samantha Allen (@SLAwrites) speaks to LGBTQ asylum seekers; Advocate shares research about LGBTQ equality’s positive correlation with economic performance
www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-tipsheet-april-30-2018?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed
Squash Player Todd Harrity Makes History, Becoming Sport’s First Openly Gay Male Pro
Squash Player Todd Harrity Makes History, Becoming Sport’s First Openly Gay Male Pro
U.S. squash player Todd Harrity came out as gay in a Twitter post on Saturday, becoming the sport’s first openly gay pro player. Harrity is ranked #54 in the world.
— Todd Harrity (@toddharrity) April 28, 2018
Tweeted Harrity:
To everyone I know and to all who know me.
I have something that I am finally ready to get off my chest.
I am gay, and I’m ready to live my life as an openly gay man. I have decided to come out because I am convinced that having everyone know this about me is the only way I can truly be content. I also think it is best for everyone around me, so that we can more fully understand each other.
To the people I have already told, thank you. I was not ready to have everyone know this about me. I appreciate you keeping my secret, and not telling any curious people who might have asked you.
To the Pro Squash world,
We are a diverse group of different nationalities, ethnicities, and faiths. I don’t know how this will be received by everyone. But I have been dealing with this for a long time. This is what’s necessary for me to be myself, and best enjoy the rest of my time on the circuit, and beyond.
Lastly, I am not famous. But if I can be a source of inspiration to any others in a similar situation, I am pleased. This has not been easy for me. It has taken me a long time to accept myself as I am. But now I have, and am ready to put all of this behind me and move on with my life.
Todd Harrity
The Professional Squash Association released a statement following Harrity’s coming out: “The PSA would like to offer their support to Todd at this time – the squash world is a diverse place and no matter what creed, race, sexual preference or anything else, we should all welcome and accept each other.”
Harrity also immediately received support from fellow squash pros and sports journalists.
This is a powerfully significant milestone for squash: our first male professional to publicly come out as gay. Jenny Duncalf & Rachael Grinham last year and now Todd Harrity: national champion, top sixty tour player on the upswing of his career and today a pioneer.
— James Zug (@squashword) April 29, 2018
We all admire your bravery and honesty @toddharrity . Great person and doesn’t change anything. Be yourself and enjoy your life. PS I’m always here to give you a chopping in the cross-court game! t.co/Ml35qrFYjU
— Sean Conroy (@SConroy001) April 29, 2018
Good on you mate!
— Joe Green (@Joegreen46) April 28, 2018
— Joshna Chinappa (@joshnachinappa) April 28, 2018
Love is Love is Love
#LoveWins t.co/LDc52HNOAS
— Sarah-Jane Perry (@SJPerry15) April 28, 2018
Love you so much @toddharrity
You know I will always support you no matter what & I am so proud of you for coming out. This takes so much courage to do. #LoveWins #BestFriend
t.co/eGKBj8DFEI
— Amanda Sobhy (@itssobhytime) April 28, 2018
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Squash Player Todd Harrity Makes History, Becoming Sport’s First Openly Gay Male Pro