Gay Texas Teen Bullied After Nomination for Homecoming King

Justin Boone faced an antigay backlash that forced him to stay home the day the homecoming wins were announced.

www.advocate.com/youth/2019/10/10/gay-texas-teen-bullied-after-nomination-homecoming-king

Bernie Sanders, Drew Barrymore, Normandy, Jared Leto, Chanel Gatecrasher, Karen Pence, Charli XCX, Lil Nas X: HOT LINKS

NORMANDY! Trump justifies allowing Turkish offensive against Kurds: “They didn’t help us in the Second World War, they didn’t help us with Normandy, for example.”

2020. Bernie Sanders says he misspoke about scaling back campaign after heart attack: “I misspoke the other day. I said a word I should not have said and media drives me a little bit nuts to make a big deal about it,” Sanders said during the interview alongside his wife, Jane Sanders. “We’re going to get back into the groove of a very vigorous campaign, I love doing rallies and I love doing town meetings.”

LOST HIS HEAD. Jared Leto’s Met Gala accessory has gone missing.

REX TILLERSON. Trump pressed then-Secretary of State to persuade DOJ to drop criminal case against client of Rudy Giuliani.

MIKE PENCE. VP dodges questions about his knowledge of Trump’s Ukraine plot. ‘Pence responded that he never discussed the Bidens with Zelensky, that Zelensky has said he was not pressured, that the summary of Trump’s call with Zelensky doesn’t show a quid pro quo and that the issue of military aid was “from my experience” not connected to Trump’s interest in the Bidens.’

KAREN PENCE. She loves the way Trump treats young women according to The New York Times’ White House correspondent Katie Rogers.

RED LETTER CHRISTIANS. More than 100 progressive Christian leaders sign statement supporting Trump impeachment inquiry. “We welcome the light of truth, honesty, and transparency that this moment affords our country, whatever may be revealed,” the signed statement reads. “We call for an open inquiry that shines light on this administration’s dealings behind closed doors and petition people of faith and integrity to join us in calling forth this light.”

ME. Elton John’s new memoir contains some amusing stories about Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana.

POLAND. Tension over gay rights a major election issue. ‘In an effort to capitalize on a wedge issue, the leader of the conservative ruling Law and Justice party, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, vowed to protect Poles from an “LGBT offensive” that he said seeks the “radical destruction of the moral and cultural order.” An archbishop called the LGBT community a “rainbow plague.” And far-right politician Janusz Korwin-Mikke said “one must slaughter” those who promote gay rights.’

THE CHANEL GATECRASHER. Why she crashed the Chanel show.

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The moment #GigiHadid confronted a prankster who ran onto the #Chanel runway to join the finale. The unidentified woman ran from the audience to disrupt the show, but was soon led away by Hadid and then surrounded by her and a group of models. Stay tuned for full coverage of the show.

A post shared by Dazed Fashion (@dazedfashion) on Oct 1, 2019 at 2:36am PDT

DREW BARRYMORE. She’s getting a daytime talk show….

NATURE DOC OF THE DAY. Dancing with the Birds.

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE DAY. “Dripeesha” by Todrick (featuring Tiffany Haddish.

TRAILER OF THE DAY. Disney/Pixar’s Onward.

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE DAY. Charli XCX “White Mercedes”.

THIRSTY THURSDAY. Lil Nas X.

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i was doing the panini dance in the second picture

A post shared by Lil Nas X (@lilnasx) on Oct 3, 2019 at 7:46pm PDT

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A post shared by Lil Nas X (@lilnasx) on Oct 6, 2019 at 8:37pm PDT

The post Bernie Sanders, Drew Barrymore, Normandy, Jared Leto, Chanel Gatecrasher, Karen Pence, Charli XCX, Lil Nas X: HOT LINKS appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Bernie Sanders, Drew Barrymore, Normandy, Jared Leto, Chanel Gatecrasher, Karen Pence, Charli XCX, Lil Nas X: HOT LINKS

HRC’s Parents for Transgender Equality Council Celebrates National Coming Out Day

Post submitted by members of HRC Foundation’s Parents for Transgender Equality National Council

Every year on October 11 we celebrate National Coming Out Day — a day dedicated to lifting up the LGBTQ community and highlighting the visibility of millions of people who make up this vibrant group. 

The first National Coming Out Day was celebrated in 1988 with the belief that homophobia, biphobia and transphobia exist in a culture of silence, and that hearts and minds are opened when loved ones come out as LGBTQ.

In the words of Texas State Rep. Julie Johnson, “It’s hard to hate up close.” 

But for transgender and non-binary youth, coming out can often feel scary, especially when they fear they won’t be supported by their family members. Sixty-four percent of gender-expansive youth report that their families make them feel bad about their identities, and only 22% are out to their parents at all. 

Yet medical and psychological organizations across the country state definitively that loving, supporting and affirming trans and non-binary kids in their identities is the very best thing that any person can do. And we believe that parents want what is best for their children. 

HRC Foundation’s Parents for Transgender Equality Council is here to offer some advice that can make the transition a little easier for everyone.

Open the Door to the Conversation
“We always tried to create an environment for our family where we could talk and listen. Our kids could feel safe enough to come to us about anything. The best advice I have is to actively listen to your kids and to follow their lead with respect and love.” —Jess Girven

“It was apparent at a very early age that our child was not conforming to gender stereotypes. I had an inkling that she might be transgender, but I waited for her to articulate her identity more clearly. It wasn’t until she read the children’s book ‘George’ by Alex Gino that she first learned the word ‘transgender.’ She lit up like a Christmas tree and exclaimed, ‘Mama! That’s like me!’ If I could do one thing differently, I would have given my daughter more language to better articulate her identity sooner.”   —Joy Wilson

Listen to What Your Child is Trying to Tell You
“When my husband and I discussed what we wanted for our children, we agreed that it was more important to teach our children to feel confident and to love who they are, rather than bend into society’s demands. Did we want to make our children feel ‘less’ or to feel like something was so wrong with them? Absolutely and unquestionably, no.”  —Jen Slipakoff

“Believe your child’s experience and trust that your love will carry you forward.”  —Lizette Trujillo

Celebrate Diversity
“As a family on this journey, it felt like an awakening and that we hadn’t really been seeing the world in all its diversity and beauty. We always tell people that it took our son to see what it means to truly live authentically. We hope others can learn from our experience and understand the great joy that comes with being who you are. Learning this truth empowered not only our children, but everyone in our family..”  —Peter Tchoryk

Find Support
“It’s statistically impossible, but sometimes it feels like you might be the only person in the world with a transgender child. Finding other parents of other gender expansive kids can really be empowering, reassuring and beneficial. I often have questions about school, doctors and sports teams. Other parents who share a similar journey have been incredibly helpful in pointing me in the right direction.”  —Amber Briggle

Give Your Child Time to Explore
“Frequently parents who call us for advice seem to want a ‘definitive’ answer with what to do with a young child who is presenting as either possibly trans, or whose expression is all over the map. I often recommend taking a step back and allowing this exploration to unfold in its own time and space.”  —Mimi Lemay

“Our child has come out to us twice in the past three years. The first time they were 10 and told us that they were transgender. They did not know that there were other people like them and they were afraid of rejection. We all had a steep learning curve, but we knew that we needed to support our child no matter what. Now my child identifies as non-binary and I am so proud of our kiddo!” —Sarah Watson

Talking with Other family Members is Important, Too
“Take extra care to be mindful of siblings. Explain to them what is happening, so they are on the same page. It’s important that they are included in all family decisions and discussions regarding appropriate ways to respect and treat their trans sibling. In addition, be aware that they may be jealous of the extra attention that is given to their sibling. When our daughter, Jazz, transitioned at five, her older sister was upset that she’d no longer be the only princess in the house, but after explaining the challenges Jazz would face she completely turned around and exclaimed, ‘I’m going to be the best big sister ever.’ If other family members refuse to embrace, support and accept your child, then keep them at bay and let them know that all contact will cease until they are ready to love your child unconditionally.”  —Jeanette Jennings

Understand That Coming Out Isn’t a One-Time Thing
“Trans people will have to or may want to come out again and again to a variety of people and in a variety of settings. You can’t assume once your child gives permission to tell someone that that means permission to out them in any situation. Ask your child each time it needs to happen about what messaging they would like given.”  —Amy D’Arpino

Remind Them that your Love is Unconditional
“I would tell my child ‘what you are in your heart and mind is more important than what people think of you based on some other body parts.’ At the end of the day, this journey is your child’s, and as a parent, the best answer at any given time is ‘I love you and support you: today, tomorrow, unconditionally.’”  —Mimi Lemay 

“I told Z that Dad’s love comes with a lifetime guarantee.”  —Louis Porter

Know That You Are Not Alone
“We found that there were so many more families like ours out there than we had ever imagined.”  —Ea Porter

“Connect with other parents and introduce your child to other trans youth. There is nothing more empowering for a child than to see themselves in another, and nothing more reassuring for you and your family than knowing that you are NOT ALONE. Together we can make this world safer and more inclusive for our trans and gender non-conforming kids.”  —Lizette Trujillo

For more information and resources, visit the Parents for Transgender Equality National Council page.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-parents-for-trans-equality-council-celebrates-coming-out?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed