TIM COOK. Apple CEO gives rare interview to People En Español, talks about decision to come out: “What was driving me was [that] I was getting notes from kids who were struggling with their sexual orientation. They were depressed. Some said [they] had suicidal thoughts. Some had been banished by their own parents and family. It weighed on me in terms of what I could do. Obviously I couldn’t talk to each one individually that reached out, but you always know if you have people reaching out to you that there’s many more that don’t, that are just out there wondering whether they have a future or not, wondering whether life gets better … From there I really decided. There’s been a lot of people that came before me that made it possible for me to sit here today, and I needed to do something to help those people that were in a younger generation. It probably took a year between getting the words exactly like I wanted and picking the right time for the company, because I didn’t want it to be a distraction and so forth. I have not regretted it for one minute. Not at all.”
NEW YORK CITY. Tensions rise as congressional candidates seek endorsement of Stonewall Democratic Club: “Sparks flew during a Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City endorsement meeting on October 23, but the night culminated with members expectedly backing out gay City Councilmember Ritchie Torres in next year’s congressional race to replace José Serrano in the Bronx.”
CASTING. Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci play gaycouple on road trip in Supernova: “‘Supernova’ is a deeply romantic, modern love story,” said Macqueen, who also wrote the script. “It follows two people who are bound together by their love for each other but being pushed apart by the situation they find themselves in. It is an intimate, naked portrayal of a relationship facing a fissure that threatens to cut it to its very core.”
MECHANICAL FANTASY BOX. A new album from disco legend Patrick Cowley. ‘Before his death in 1982, the producer and musician Patrick Cowley was best known for electronic disco productions that defined San Francisco’s gay hi-NRG scene. He was one of the first entertainers with national impact (if not the first) to die of AIDS (his “Menergy” and “Megatron Man” hit the top of Billboard’s club chart in 1981). The party line is that his “career began to rise as his health failed him” (words cribbed from his Bay Area Reporter obit), and the music he made in his final year had a starry slickness to it suggesting even better things to come.’
We are gearing up to elect a pro-equality majority in Virginia on Tuesday, November 5, and HRC wants to make sure you have a voting plan.
This Election Day in Virginia is a turning point: Voters are fed up with politicians who insist on playing politics with the lives of LGBTQ people. Across the state, Equality Voters are ready to turn out to vote and elect pro-equality leaders up and down the ballot.
We have you covered before you head out to the polls:
Find your polling location.
Make a plan! Polls will open at 6:00 AM and close at 7:00 PM. As long as you are in line to vote by the time polls close, you will be permitted to vote — it’s the law. Find your polling place.
Sen. Adam Ebbin SD-30 – Arlington, Fairfax, Alexandria city
Virginia House of Delegates:
Del. Wendy Gooditis HD-10 – Clarke, Frederick, Loudoun
Del. Danica Roem HD-13 – Prince William, Manassas Park City
Joshua Cole HD-28 – Stafford, Fredericksburg City
Del. Elizabeth Guzman HD-31 – Fauquier, Prince William
Mavis Taintor HD-33 – Clarke, Frederick, Loudoun
Dan Helmer HD-40 – Fairfax, Prince William
Del. Eileen Filler-Corn HD-41 – Fairfax
Del. Mark Sickles HD-43 – Fairfax
Del. Mark Levine HD-45 – Fairfax, Arlington County, Alexandria City
Del. Hala Ayala HD-51 – Prince William
Sheila Bynum-Coleman HD-66 – Chesterfield, Richmond City, Colonial Heights City
Del. Dawn Adams HD-68 – Chesterfield, Henrico, Richmond City
Clint Jenkins HD-76 – Suffolk City, Chesapeake City
Len Myers HD-81 – Virginia Beach City, Chesapeake City
Nancy Guy HD-83 – Virginia Beach City, Norfolk City
Martha Mugler HD-91 – York, Hampton City, Poquoson City
Shelly Simonds HD-94 – Newport News City
Phil Hernandez HD-100 – Accomack, Northampton, Norfolk City
Spread the word!
Call or text five friends and remind them that every vote counts. They can make a voting plan at hrc.org/Vote.
Volunteer with HRC to get out the vote and mobilize Equality Voters to support these pro-equality candidates: hrc.im/VA-Events. Together, we can elect a pro-equality majority and make real change in Virginia.