Please enter your date of birth to proceed.
Defense Sec Mattis Quits, After Going Along With Trump on Trans Ban
James Mattis had helped provide justification for the transgender military ban, perhaps reluctantly.
www.advocate.com/politics/2018/12/20/defense-sec-mattis-quits-after-going-along-trump-trans-ban
‘Chill’ Is Unapologetically Black and Gay
“But,” Chill Editor-in-Chief Gerald Garth told Towleroad, “We’re unapologetic about a lot of things. When we look at race, sexuality, interests—we look at the many layers of what it is to be a millennial man of color.”
Chill debuted a year ago and won two prestigious Folio Awards (they’re like the Oscars for magazines): For both Best Editorial Team (That includes The Advocate Magazine and Plus magazine) and for best new magazine launch. “At Chill, we set out to do a number of things. I always say, we are here to invite people into spaces they might not normally go, from fashion to music to entertainment.”
“But even beyond that,” Garth continues, “In subjects like health, sex and relationships, we make it a point to highlight innovative and interesting things in Chill. We want to showcase diversity across the board. We are also growing the brand with new partnerships, stronger digital, more distribution and some exciting new events.”
The 4th issue of Chill featuring Charlamagne Tha God
Garth explains some terminology that some cis gender white gay or straight men may not completely understand and that’s the adoption of the term same gender loving (SGL) which some Black men prefer as opposed to gay. “For a long time, many Black men did not feel included in the rainbow; the gay experience did not include Black men. Black people have had to deal with racism—direct and implicit, and much of the efforts for inclusion did not speak of Blackness. Also too, so much of media and messaging showed one type of gay, and that was generally white. Even more, gay meant white, male, fit, attractive, able-bodied, and wealthy. The phrase “same gender loving” serves a few purposes. The phrase creates a dynamic for the Black man that shows his humanity. The phrase looks at him beyond sexual exploits and experiments. The phrase builds in the Black men in relationship, not just experience.”
One of the other things that’s clear is the magazine’s emphasis on health generally and HIV prevention and treatment in particular. “Health continues to be a major part of the lives of millennial men of color, particularly Black and Latino men. Many of us know how these lives are impacted by inequities like HIV and sexual health, mental health, and drug use. But we must be responsible and look at why we see what we see. At Chill, we make it a point to unpack issues and experiences that impact health, health choices and health outcomes.”
Garth pauses, “With that too, we have to be innovative and mindful of how we deliver health messages. We’ve seen the scare tactics, the shame tactics, we’ve seen what ignoring and not representing us can do. At Chill, we are unapologetically showing our readers that you are here. And you’re not going anywhere.”
The post ‘Chill’ Is Unapologetically Black and Gay appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.
Jason Momoa, Timothée Chalamet, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Michael Urie, And An HIV Testing App: HOT LINKS
REAL MEN WEAR PIG TAILS. Jason Momoa is spotted wearing gender bender pig tails (Aquaman opens tomorrow!)
#TBT: Remember when Kenny got a cute boyfriend on The Real O’Neals and did a Sia mashup of Oh Holy Night?
IT’S RAINING PLAYS. With numerous shows closing due to lackluster ticket sales actor Michael Urie asks if we aren’t eating our own in How Many Gay Plays Can Broadway Sustain?
JUST SAY NO! Super Cutie Timothée Chalamet says the message of Beautiful Boy is to say no to drugs.
THIS MOVIE COST HOW MUCH?! Check out the amazing promo pictures for this community theater production of Aladdin–Oh wait...
MUST SEE! The Many Hats of Ralph Arnold: Art, Identity & Politics showcases the Black, gay artist’s 1970s photocollages, which commented upon mass media portrayals of sexuality and race.
TESTIMONY ICE Defends Treatment Of Trans Detainee
GET SMART A new app called HIVSmart! lets people test themselves for HIV, connects them to care quickly, and could be adapted for many at-risk populations, according to a new study.
WHO’S #1? Who will be crowned the RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars 4 winner?
NEXT! Lin-Manuel Miranda talks about his future.
THURSDAY THOTTIES blackmensoswag
View this post on Instagram
Left or Right? @blackmenisfine . ________________________________________ LIKE & TAG YOUR FRIENDS TURN ON MY POST NOTIFICATIONS . . . . . #blackmen #blackman #men #blackmensoswag #beautifulblackmen #bombfr #boy #sexyblackmen #model #blackmodel #damhefine #blackguys #blackmensmiling #instagood #love #blackpride #alphablackmen #blackbeardedmen #melanin #melaninpoppin #blackboy #blackboyjoy #blackpeople #handsomemen #viral #handsomeblackmen #fashion #swag
A post shared by SEXY BLACK MEN (@blackmensoswag) on
The post Jason Momoa, Timothée Chalamet, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Michael Urie, And An HIV Testing App: HOT LINKS appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.
Jason Momoa, Timothée Chalamet, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Michael Urie, And An HIV Testing App: HOT LINKS
Zach Stafford Will Be The First Black Editor-in-Chief Of ‘The Advocate’
In a tweet Into Editor-in-Chief Zach Stafford announced that he would be taking the reigns over at legacy LGBTQ news magazine The Advocate.
NEWS
I have been named the new Editor-in-Chief of The Advocate.
I am beyond thrilled to join a magazine that has been so vital to our community for over 50 years. Tomorrow I will be sharing a final editor’s note on INTO with more details. t.co/I04o6kuRvI
— Zach Stafford (@ZachStafford) December 21, 2018
It’s an interesting decision coming on the heels of Teen Vogue’s wunderkind Phillip Picardi taking over the reigns at Out magazine.
The 28-year-old Stafford would be the first Editor-in-Chief of color at the 50 year old magazine.
“Zach is a tenacious and talented risk taker, journalist and editorial leader who will help lead The Advocate to become the undisputed leader in the LGBTQ community for breaking news and in-depth reporting on the communities we serve” Nathan Coyle, CEO of Pride Media, owner of The Advocate, told NBC News in an emailed statement.
The post Zach Stafford Will Be The First Black Editor-in-Chief Of ‘The Advocate’ appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.
Zach Stafford Will Be The First Black Editor-in-Chief Of ‘The Advocate’: BREAKING
Nyle Dimarco was offered a wheelchair at the airport because… he’s deaf?
The incident happened while the sexually fluid top model was deplaning a Delta flight earlier this week.
What’s the Secret to Love in 2019? 15 Dating Goals Singles NEED to Follow
As another year comes to an end, it’s a good time to reflect on the last 12 months and set some committed goals for the future! Your dating life may have taken a back seat in 2018, but you’d like to drastically change that come the new year. I’m not telling you to attempt all […]
The post What’s the Secret to Love in 2019? 15 Dating Goals Singles NEED to Follow appeared first on PlentyOfFish Blog.
What’s the Secret to Love in 2019? 15 Dating Goals Singles NEED to Follow
‘Fitness Photographer’ with ‘Straight Guy Fetish’ Gets 16 Years for Drugging, Raping Male Models
Nigel Wilkinson, a British man with a ‘straight guy fetish’ who lured straight men to his home by offering them fashion shoots and then drugged and sexually assaulted them, was given 16 years and 6 months in prison.
The BBC reported: ‘Wilkinson, who failed to appear at court for sentencing, was found guilty on Tuesday of drugging five men, voyeurism offences against three and the rape of one. The court heard Wilkinson advertised on Facebook and Instagram to lure men to his home where he had set up a makeshift studio.He would then ply them with drinks laced with sedatives, allowing him to sexually assault them, and in some cases take photos of them they did not consent to.’
Wilkinson could “barely use a camera and was still having trouble using photoshop even into 2016” according to one photographer who was reached by the defendant for advice. He also told prospective models he was an international “jetsetting” photographer named Simon.
“Wilkinson is a gay man who preferred to have sex with straight men without their being aware of it,” the prosecutor told the jury.
The prosecution presented evidence of a Skype conversation between Wilkinson (“Straightboylover”) and another Skype user in which Wilkinson spoke of having a “fetish” for “straight boys”.
Wilkinson’s M.O. was similar in several cases, Bristol Post added: ‘All described how he plied them with alcohol as soon as they arrived being very “pushy” and telling them the alcohol would bring out the veins in their arms and make them appear more muscular. He would almost always arrange for them to stay and for them to go for food and drinks afterward. With the men describing not being able to remember past a certain point in the night later waking up in Wilkinson’s bed or on his sofa with a bad head and different states of dress. When police would later show them pictures of themselves that were found in Wilkinson’s possessions all would insist they had never agreed to full nude and intimate pictures and had no recollection of them being taken. Miss Regan said: “He stupefied and overpowered his victims in order to sexually assault them.”’
One model told police he woke up in a stupefied naked state to find Wilkinson behind him: “I am definitely sure he was doing stuff to me. He was trying to have sex with me.”
Six other models who gave evidence described similar experiences.
The paper added: “In total, 39 men had their photographs taken by Nigel Wilkinson, 28 of those men had stayed the night at his home. A further 69 men in were contacted by Wilkinson but some of them did not reply or if they did they rejected his offer. Police were able to contact 51 of the men to check on their welfare but many of these did not want to engage with the force.”
The case is similar to that of a Miami man, Bryan Deneumostier, arrested in July for posing as a housewife and promising men sex before luring them to his home, filming them without their knowledge, and putting those films on a pay website called Straightboyz. Deneumostier was recently sentenced to three years in prison.
The post ‘Fitness Photographer’ with ‘Straight Guy Fetish’ Gets 16 Years for Drugging, Raping Male Models appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.
‘Fitness Photographer’ with ‘Straight Guy Fetish’ Gets 16 Years for Drugging, Raping Male Models
BREAKING: New Report Documents Horrific Anti-LGBTQ Crimes Against Humanity in Chechnya
Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) — America’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization — responded to a new report released by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) documenting horrific anti-LGBTQ crimes against humanity in the Russian republic of Chechnya that first made headlines in April 2017. Refuting denials from Chechen and Russian authorities, the report details the systematic torture, abuse and murder of LGBTQ people.
The report was authorized by 16 OSCE countries last month in order to investigate the human rights abuses and the Russian government’s failure to respond. It clearly states that there is “overwhelming evidence that there have been grave violations of the rights of LGBTI persons in the Chechen Republic,” while also citing gruesome personal stories from victims of the Chechen regime’s cruelty. The report also calls on Russia to establish a special investigative committee to “undertake an effective, impartial and transparent investigation of the allegations” and “bring to justice the alleged perpetrators.”
“The Russian government can no longer deny the existence of these barbaric anti-LGBTQ crimes against humanity in Chechnya,” said HRC Global Director Ty Cobb. “World leaders, including the Trump-Pence administration, must take action to hold Russia and those responsible for the crimes accountable and to ensure these atrocious crimes have been stopped and never happen again. It’s crucial that Russia follow the report’s recommendations and launch a serious investigation, and that the world community — and especially the United States — welcome refugees escaping these gross human rights abuses.”
The report also contained a number of recommendations for the Chechen government, including shutting down all unofficial detention facilities in the republic — where many LGBTQ victims were held and tortured for weeks — as well as ending the “climate of impunity by holding to account all perpetrators of human rights violations, including members of the police and other security forces.”
There are also a number of recommendations for other OSCE nations, including the United States. In particular, it calls on those countries to welcome LGBTI refugees from the Chechen republic and take into account the “special security needs” of these refugees by providing them with safe housing as well as medical and psychological support.
Since news of the atrocities first broke more than 18 months ago, HRC has worked to shine a spotlight on the dire situation unfolding in Chechnya through the organization’s #EyesOnChechnya campaign. In that time, the Trump-Pence White House has refused to publicly condemn the anti-LGBTQ attacks, even as Vladimir Putin licensed the violence to continue. While the U.S. Treasury Department did place sanctions on certain Chechen officials in response to their human rights violations, and U.S. diplomats supported the OSCE fact-finding mission, President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Secretary Pompeo have never once spoken out publicly against what has taken place there. In July, on the eve of the Trump-Putin summit in Helsinki, HRC projected an enormous message on the Presidential Palace demanding that Trump and Putin immediately condemn and investigate the ongoing anti-LGBTQ crimes against humanity occurring in Chechnya.
On April 1, 2017, Novaya Gazeta, a Russian independent media outlet, first broke the news that Chechen authorities had rounded up and detained in secret prisons more than 100 men who were suspected of being gay or bisexual. Chechen leaders have denied these accusations, going so far as to deny the very existence of LGBTQ people in Chechnya — a claim the Russian government astonishingly repeated.
Chechen officials have also reportedly encouraged families to murder relatives they suspect might be gay or bisexual. While the initial detentions and attacks targeted men suspected of being gay or bisexual, the campaign has also brought about a surge in lesbian women sharing stories about humiliation, abuse, and threats they have faced from male relatives or from others. Transgender Chechens have also fled violence.
While former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson did reportedly write a private letter to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov raising the human rights abuses, that letter was never released publicly nor was it accompanied by any public statement on Chechnya. In October 2017, HRC filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the U.S. Department of State for all records regarding that letter — a request that has yet to be fulfilled. While the White House has remained silent, both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate have passed bipartisan resolutions condemning the atrocities.
In March, HRC also released a letter from HRC President Chad Griffin to Trump calling on him to end his deafening silence and publicly condemn the attacks as crimes against humanity. In June, a gay Chechen refugee joined HRC in Washington for a series of meetings with U.S. government officials, where he shared how he had been brutally tortured in Chechnya and managed to flee to safety in Canada with the help of the organization Rainbow Railroad. HRC also shared the first-hand story of one of the Chechen survivors on World Refugee Day.
Anti-Gay Baker Jack Phillips in Court Again, This Time for Refusing Transgender Woman
Jack Phillips, the anti-gay baker at the center of the Masterpiece Cakeshop Supreme Court case, was back in court this week, facing another complaint of anti-LGBTQ discrimination.
USA Today reports: ‘Autumn Scardina, a transgender woman who is also a Denver attorney, said Phillips’ bakery refused to make a cake for her in June 2017 to celebrate her transition from male to female. The request, which came weeks after the Supreme Court case involving Charlie Craig and David Mullins, was for a birthday cake colored pink on the inside and blue on the outside. Phillips’ lawyers from the Alliance Defending Freedom say Colorado is engaged in “unconstitutional bullying,” The Gazette reports, and they are suing governor of Colorado John Hickenlooper’s administration, the Division of Civil Rights and the Colorado Civil Rights Commission.’
After the SCOTUS ruling in his favor Phillips and his lawyer, whose remarks were straight out of the fundamentalist playbook, tried to paint him as a kind-hearted non-bigot in an appearance on the TODAY show.
Said Phillips: “I was thrilled. SCOTUS has decided that we can try to enter the wedding business again, and I serve everybody. I don’t create cakes for every occasion that people ask me to create…I don’t discriminate against anybody…I serve everybody that comes in my shop…I told these two men who came in the store ‘I’ll sell you cookies, brownies, birthday cakes…a wedding is an inherently religious event…and the cake is definitely a specific message.”
As a reminder, The Colorado Civil Rights Commission’s decision noted evidence in the record that Phillips had expressed willingness to take a cake order for the “marriage” of two dogs, but not for the commitment ceremony of two women, and that he would not make a cake for a same-sex couple’s wedding celebration “just as he would not be willing to make a pedophile cake.”
The post Anti-Gay Baker Jack Phillips in Court Again, This Time for Refusing Transgender Woman appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.
Anti-Gay Baker Jack Phillips in Court Again, This Time for Refusing Transgender Woman
You must be 18 years old or older to chat
